Not Just a Tick in the Box:

1

• Not Just a Tick in the Box
• Experiences of a User in Research
• Christine Allmark, Sheila Fisher,
• Penny Wright

2
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Background
• Macmillan Research Grant competition for User-led
  Research
• Inclusion in bid-advisory role
• User-research lead appointment

3
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Challenges
• Closed world of academic research
• Culture shock
• A mere graduate!
• Different language
• Loss of confidence

4
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Personal concerns
• Responsibility
• Stamina chronic health problems
• Reliability return to work
• Discipline working in a formal environment

5
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Coping strategies
• Doing it
• Learning and asking
• Giving and taking within the team
• Tokenism-challenging stereotypes
• Expanding contacts and roles

6
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• What helped
• Supportive team
• Different skills and expertise
• Sharing
• Training

7
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Impact
• New skills and confidence
• Respect for those in clinical research
• Understanding complexity of research
• Ideas on working in partnership with research and
  clinical team

8
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Outcome
• Finding way in an unknown world
• Evolving new identity and mindset
• New ambitions and plans
• Enthusiasm

9
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Issues
• Barriers to users in research

Picture Elliott Erwitt, Magnum
10
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Conclusion
• Cooperation
• Collaboration
• Complement

11
Not Just a Tick in the Box

• Thank you
• Acknowledgements
• Sheila and Penny
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• Everyone in the CR-UK Psychosocial Oncology team
• COMPASS
• Audience for listening