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Table 7 Benefits and disadvantages of service user involvement reported by service users and staff

From: Service user involvement: impact and participation: a survey of service user and staff perspectives

Benefits of Service User Involvement

Service Users

N

Professionals

 

Having a say, Included in decision making

35

Service users having a say, Empowerment

26

Improvement in services

25

Therapeutic benefit, Self esteem, recovery

16

Feeling listened to, chance to give opinion

20

Improvements in services

15

Therapeutic benefit, Self esteem, recovery

13

Service user feel listened to and valued

8

Opportunities for social interaction

11

Service users a source of knowledge

7

Access to information about services

9

Access to information about treatment

3

Getting involved in groups/activities

7

Service users’ professional development

3

Improving relationship with clinicians

7

Positive use of time,

3

Opportunity to develop skills

5

Other

4

Other

4

  

Disadvantages of Service User Involvement

Tokenism, No resulting change

11

Service users too negative/too critical

12

Users unable to participate due to health

8

Involvement detrimental to mental health

9

User input not seen as important

6

Involved service users not representative

8

Involvement detrimental to mental health

5

User input not seen as important

6

Other

3

Tokenism, No resulting change

6

  

Unrealistic demands made by service users

4

  

Other

2