Chapter objectives:

• To discuss what is meant by the term ‘public’ and ‘involvement’ in health research
• To outline the competing rationales for public involvement in health research and the main reasons why the public and researchers might want to work together on research
• To consider the challenges and barriers to public involvement – including current debates surrounding this
• To identify activities in which the public could be involved and the methods for such involvement
• To examine the practicalities of public involvement in health research and conditions for success