Service user involvement in the education of allied healthcare professionals in Ireland: a mixed-methods exploration

Background: Service user involvement (SUI) in healthcare education is reported to foster more patient-centred practitioners. However, there is limited guidance as to how authentic SUI can be embedded within educational practice. This study aimed to describe current practices and explore how SUI may be better embedded in the delivery of healthcare education. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods study was undertaken in a higher-level healthcare education department in Ireland. Data were collected via an online survey completed by educators (n = 27) and semi-structured interviews with service users (n = 6). Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Thematic analysis of interview transcriptions was undertaken. Results: Most educators indicated that SUI was limited to ‘one-off’ interactions or case-based learning and that there was ‘probably’ (75%) or ‘definitely’ (9%) not enough SUI. Both staff and service users reinforced the value of SUI in healthcare education, yet the potential of the role of the service users was not fully realised. Service users described the benefits of their involvement in humanising patients beyond the context of their condition/illness. Several challenges were highlighted, including limited resources, lack of empowerment and insufficient knowledge of the scope of SUI. Conclusions: The need to educate all stakeholders about the potential for SUI beyond one-off contributions was highlighted. Additionally, engaged leadership is needed to facilitate the contextual integration of processes and procedures to embed the role of service users in higher education. Further investment is needed to advance SUI, which may require additional encouragement from funders, policy makers and regulators.