title: OC26 - Parents of young children in research: informants, consultants and collaborators.
abstract: Theme:
  
  
  METHODS
  dignity and humanity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Patient and public involvement in research is recognised as best practice in the UK, as services developed with service users are more likely to meet their needs. In child health this often means engaging with parents of young children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To share experiences of engaging with parents of young children in research projects at varying levels of participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods include parents as participants, as parent panels and as research team members reflecting various steps on the participation ladder (Hart 1992).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents report personal benefits and a range of different challenges when engaging in child health research which impact the management/delivery of research projects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key elements of working with parents include time to plan involvement, building respect/mutual understanding, equal access to project activities, continual support for parents, reward and recognition. Research projects need to cost and plan for parents' engagement in research for it to be successful.
authors.affiliation: University of Northampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neill
authors.affiliation: University of Leicester and University Hospitals Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: University of Northampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayes
authors.affiliation: United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.affiliation: University College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lakhanpaul
keywords: Parents; research collaboration.; research involvement; research participation