Creating a positive experience of research for people with psychiatric disabilities by sharing feedback.
This paper describes a consumer evaluation that explored the reflections of persons with psychiatric disabilities on receiving individualized feedback following participation in a community research project. Findings indicate that feedback is an important element of research, offering a valued means to reciprocate participants' contributions. Feedback can facilitate mutual learning, fostering hope and empowerment, while participation in performance tests without feedback may reinforce negative self-evaluations. Feedback needs sensitive presentation and discussion, focused on strengths, to be experienced as worthwhile and respectful by people with psychiatric disabilities. This is particularly important as their self-identities may already be undermined by experiences of mental illness. Researchers need dedicated time, resources, and training to incorporate individual feedback in research.
Fossey
Ellie
E
School of Occupational Therapy, The La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. e.fossey@latrobe.edu.au
Epstein
Merinda
M
Findlay
Ross
R
Plant
Gillian
G
Harvey
Carol
C
D001315:Australia; D003142:Communication; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*