What is the value of consumer involvement in clinical trials, and how do clinical trialists and consumer partners work together in neurorehabilitation trials?

Clinical trial frameworks and funders agree on the importance of engaging with consumers and the community within the health and medical research sector, advocating for meaningful engagement of consumers throughout all stages of research. Yet little is known about how to achieve this within complex randomised trials when working with people living with an acquired brain injury from stroke or trauma. This mixed method project will commence with a survey of clinical trialists based on the NHMRC Self-assessment of Consumer and Community Involvement in the Research Journey. Following this survey, the study will explore researchers' and consumer's perspectives of the impact of consumers within trials and factors likely to influence its impact using a qualitative method. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with researchers and consumers who have participated in a neuro-rehabilitation intervention randomised clinical trial. Analysis of transcripts of audio-recorded interviews will be informed by the constant comparative method, elements of content analysis and informant triangulation.