title: Involving the public in NHS service planning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study that examined the development of an assessment framework for public involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The paper has adopted a multi-method approach that includes: a focused review of literature relating to tools that might be used to provide valid and reliable assessments of public involvement; key informant interviews with people with experience from various perspectives of efforts to involve the public in the planning and development of health services; and a detailed study of a specific public involvement initiative involving a range of "stakeholder" interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The paper finds that there are uncertainty and a lack of consensus about how assessment of public involvement should be undertaken. The findings emphasise the need to recognise the diverse nature of public involvement, which may require assessment to be employed flexibly at each individual NHS Board level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paper is a small-scale study, in which it was only possible to probe a limited number of stakeholders' views due to practical and time restrictions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paper adds value to the discussions taking place at Scottish Government level as to the best approach in assessing public involvement in health service decision making.
authors.affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrar
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D032921:Consensus; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards; D006285:Health Planning / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006288:Health Planning Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011340:Problem Solving; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000592:standards; D012606:Scotland; D013222:State Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management; D035502:Trust