Department of Sociology
VIP service-user group
Would you consider taking part in a service-user group to oversee our research project on how decisions are made during labour and birth?
We are working with two NHS trusts, in Sheffield and Halifax, to explore the discussions that take place during labour and birth. Research shows that when women in labour are involved in decisions about their care (eg decisions about pain relief, fetal monitoring and birth position) they are more likely to feel positively about their experience.
Our main aim is to find out how these decisions are reached between women in labour, their birth partners, and healthcare practitioners. This information will be used to identify how to effectively involve women in decision-making and to inform healthcare professionals' development.
What is a service-user group?
When carrying out studies within the NHS, it is helpful for researchers to talk with service users and their families about the study. This is usually done while the study is ongoing, so that service users can influence its development.
As someone who has used maternity services (for example as a woman giving birth or as a birth partner), your input into the study will help us a great deal. For example, you will be able to advise us on how to carry out the study in a way that is acceptable to our participants, and help us to make sure that women and their families get to hear about our findings. We would like you to be involved with every stage of the research process.
How do I take part?
If you decide to take part you’ll be asked to attend a service-user group with other people who have used maternity services, in either Sheffield or Halifax. There will be approximately six meetings across three years and each meeting will last about two hours. The group meetings will be facilitated by one of the researchers, who is a lay person appointed to oversee the project from a service-user perspective. However, the main purpose of the group meetings will be to hear your views on the study. The focus of the meetings will be flexible, depending on what stage the study has reached at the time. The following list gives you an idea of the kinds of thing you might be asked to comment on:
- The ways we prepare women and birth partners who take part in the study (eg, how we ask them to take part and protect their privacy)
- How clear the questionnaires are that we ask women to complete six weeks before and six weeks after they give birth
- Our findings (eg, do the results make sense when you think about your experience?)
- Ways of letting other service users know about the findings
Will I be paid for taking part?
Yes. We will pay you £150 for each meeting you attend. This is taxable income and therefore should be declared and may affect benefits you are paid.
We will also cover your travel costs (please keep your receipts). This is not taxable. You will be provided with a claims form at every meeting, which you can complete and return. We can also book and pay for train tickets ahead of time if you would prefer.
You will need to bring photo ID (eg a passport or driving licence) to your first meeting in order to be paid.
Join the group...
...in Sheffield
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Contact:
- Helen Baston
0114 22 68160
Helen.Baston@sth.nhs.uk- Alison Brodrick
0114 22 61003
Alison.Brodrick@sth.nhs.uk
...in Halifax
Calderdale Royal Hospital
Contact:
- Susan Townend
07787 105096
susan.townend2@cht.nhs.uk
FAQs
Do I need to have any specific training or qualifications?
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
What are the possible disadvantages of taking part?
Will my contributions be confidential?
What happens if I change your mind about taking part?
Who is organising and funding the study?
Who has reviewed the study?
Contact
Dr Lyn Brierley-Jones
Research AssociateDepartment of Sociology
The University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
