Mental health users' experiences of being interviewed by another user in a research project: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Although user involvement in research is an area of high priority there is a lack of knowledge about how users of the mental health system perceive participation in studies carried out by other users.

AIM: The aim of the study was to describe how users experience participation in research interviews performed by other users.

METHOD: A varied sample of 17 mental health users with experience of being interviewed in a research project by another user was thematically interviewed in this qualitative study. Data was subject to content analysis.

RESULTS: Being interviewed by another user was a special experience including both negative and positive aspects, and took place in an atmosphere of comradeship. However, being interviewed by another user could generate feelings of insecurity. This finding indicates requirements from the informants how to perform user-involved research in the future.

CONCLUSIONS: In planning for user-involved research education, it is necessary to consider training and issues related to secure ethical principals concerning the informants.