Participation and Representation in Health Policy : The Role of Health Consumer Groups, 1999

The aims of this study were:<br> to explore how a sample of national health consumer groups represents the interests of patients, users and carers within the policy process through analysing their aims, objectives and strategies; examining their internal organisation and relationship with their members and grass-roots support; investigating how professional and business interests are incorporated and financial resources are mobilised.<br> to describe and analyse how these health consumer groups interact with central government departments and agencies, Parliament, and the media in relation to policy making.<br> to examine alliances between specific health consumer groups and investigate the particular role of umbrella consumer organisations in promoting alliances.<br> to assess the contribution of theoretical perspectives and models to an understanding of the role of health consumer groups and in particular to assess whether different strategies and modes of interaction are related to group characteristics.