Enhancing user involvement through interprofessional education in healthcare: the case of cancer services

Abstract

Abstract Recent developments in UK health policy seek to place the service user at the centre of service delivery, although user involvement is a complex and challenging process. This paper explores the contribution of interprofessional (IP) education to user involvement, focusing on education and training within a UK cancer network. The impact of participation in educational projects on users is explored and the benefits and limitations of IP education are discussed. Triangulation of data from several sources suggests that the contribution of IP education to user involvement is contingent on professional constructions, which include ethical positions that are related closely to issues of power and control. In particular, professional protectionism may represent an ongoing difficulty in user involvement research and development. The research suggests that without dedicated support and training, some professionals are unlikely to engage willingly with involving users in service development.