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Review
. 2015 Feb;18(1):44-57.
doi: 10.1111/hex.12007. Epub 2012 Oct 4.

'Talking the talk or walking the walk?' A bibliometric review of the literature on public involvement in health research published between 1995 and 2009

Jonathan Boote  1 , Ruth Wong, Andrew Booth
Affiliations
Review

'Talking the talk or walking the walk?' A bibliometric review of the literature on public involvement in health research published between 1995 and 2009

Jonathan Boote et al. Health Expect. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: To characterise the literature on public involvement in health research published between 1995 and 2009.

Methods: Papers were identified from three systematic reviews, one narrative review and two bibliographies. The analysis identified journals where papers were published; countries of lead authors; types of public involved; health topic areas; and stages of research involving the public. Papers were also classified as to whether they were literature reviews or empirical studies; focused on participatory/action research; were qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method. The number of papers published per year was also examined.

Findings: Of the 683 papers identified, 297 were of USA origin and 223 were of UK origin. Of the 417 empirical papers: (i) participatory/action research approach was dominant, together with qualitative data collection methods; (ii) the stage of research the public was most involved was question identification; (iii) indigenous groups were most commonly involved; (iv) mental health was the most common health topic. Published studies peaked in 2006.

Conclusions: The present study identifies publication patterns in public involvement in health research and provides evidence to suggest that researchers increasingly are 'walking the walk' with respect to public involvement, with empirical studies consistently out-numbering literature reviews from 1998.

Keywords: action research; bibliometric study; consumer involvement; health research; participatory research; public involvement; service user participation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Identified peer‐reviewed journal articles on public involvement in health research by year of publication.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. National Health & Medical Research Council and Consumers_ Health Forum of Australia . Statement on consumer and community participation in health and medical research Available at: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/ _files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/r22.pdf, accessed 31st July 2012.
    1. Department of Health . Research Governance Framework for hEalth and Social Care, 2nd edn London: Department of Health, 2005.
    1. National Institute for Health Research . Patients and public Available at: http://www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk/ppi, accessed 31st July 2012.
    1. Canadian Institutes of Health Research . Citizen engagement framework Available at: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/41753.html, accessed 31st July 2012.
    1. National Institute for Health Research . Patient and public involvement: information for researchers Available at: http://www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk/about_us/ccrn/cdtv/PPI/PPI_Researchers, accessed 6 February 2012.