How we use the term 'public'

The HTA programme has adopted and adapted INVOLVE's definition of the public. We define 'the public' as patients; unpaid carers; parents/guardians; users of health services; disabled people; members of the public who are the potential recipients of health promotion/public health programmes; groups asking for research because they believe they have been exposed to potentially harmful circumstances, products or services; groups asking for research because they believe they have been denied products or services from which they believe they could have benefited; organisations that represent service users and carers.

(adapted from a definition in Hanley B.et al, 2004, Involving the public in NHS, public health, and social care research: Briefing Notes for Researchers)

More specifically in order to maximise public input into the HTA programme, those involved should be linked to service user/carer networks i.e. they should be able to draw on a wide body of opinion and be able to provide a broad perspective to help at the stage requested in the HTA process. To avoid conflicts of interest when supporting the HTA programme, from a public perspective those involved should not normally be a health practitioner, manager or researcher.

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