UK Standards for Public Involvement

Summary

The UK Standards for Public Involvement are designed to improve the quality and consistency of public involvement in research. 

Developed over three years by a UK-wide partnership, the standards are a description of what good public involvement looks like and encourages approaches and behaviours that are the hallmark of good public involvement, such as flexibility, sharing and learning and respect for each other. 

The standards are for everyone doing health or social care research and have been tested by over 40 individuals, groups and organisations during a year-long pilot programme. They provide guidance and reassurance for users working towards achieving their own best practice.

Content

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Chief Scientist Office (CSO) Scotland, Health and Care Research Wales, and the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland invites people to use the UK Standards for Public Involvement in all types of research activity. People, teams and organisations in health research often ask "What does good public involvement in research look like?". High quality public involvement can make a real difference to research and healthcare; however, it needs to evolve and improve over time.

The UK Standards for Public Involvement provide clear, concise statements of effective public involvement against which improvement can be assessed.