Identifying the views of people with lived experience

Literature searches

SIGN has developed a literature search that is used to identify published studies, both qualitative and quantitative, that reflect the views of people with lived experience (patients, service users and carers) in relation to the clinical topic.

Patient organisations

SIGN works in close partnership with patient organisations and charities that represent and/or support people with lived experience. Before the first meeting of the guideline development group, we ask them which issues they think the guideline should address.

Direct feedback from patients and carers

We often gather the views of people with lived experience by inviting them to workshops or focus groups to discuss issues of importance. The information captured from these approaches is fed back directly to guideline groups to influence the key questions underpinning the guideline.

You can read more about these approaches in SIGN 100: a handbook for patients and carers (PDF).