Consultation is a structured approach used to gather insights, feedback, or advice from consumers and stakeholders on specific activities—such as research projects, healthcare improvements, policies, strategies, or priority areas.
Consultations may be:
- One-off or ad hoc
- Conducted over a short period (weeks to months)
- Focused on a specific purpose or outcome
Consultation can take many forms, depending on the goals and audience. Common approaches include:
- Focus groups or workshops
- Surveys
- Community conversations or World Café sessions
- Public or town hall meetings
- Priority setting activities
These methods help ensure that diverse voices are heard and that decisions are informed by real-world experiences and perspectives.
A research team engaged people living with cardiovascular disease and their carers through surveys and focus groups to inform the development of a digital self-management tool.
From over 200 survey responses and input from 30 participants in focus groups, several key themes emerged:
- A strong preference for personalised medication reminders
- A need for peer support features
- Concerns about accessibility for older adults and non-English speakers
In response, the tool was adapted to include:
- Customisable alerts for medication and appointments
- A peer support forum to foster connection and shared experiences
- A translation feature to improve accessibility across languages
This consultation process ensured the tool was patient-centred, responsive to real-world needs, and better aligned with the daily challenges of managing cardiovascular disease.
To improve the accessibility and acceptability of genetic screening for inherited conditions, a research team hosted a community conversation—a structured and interactive consultation method designed to engage the public meaningfully. The session brought together 20 participants, including individuals with genetic risk factors, carers, clinicians, and community advocates.
Discussions focused on key themes such as:
- Accessibility of screening services
- Ethical concerns
- Communication of genetic results
- Patient support needs
Key insights from the conversation:
- A strong preference for clear, non-technical explanations of genetic risks
- The need for culturally appropriate counselling
- Concerns about data privacy and insurance discrimination
Based on this feedback, the research team made several improvements to the screening program:
- Developed simplified genetic risk reports
- Introduced multilingual counselling services
- Strengthened data protection policies
This collaborative dialogue ensured the program was inclusive, patient-centred, and ethically sound, helping to build public trust and increase uptake of genetic screening.
Resources
For more information about some of these methods, please see below.