The power of symbolic capital in patient and public involvement in health research

Bibliographic Data

ID19507435
AuthorsLouise Locock (0000-0002-8109-1930, Health Experiences Research Group Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences University of Oxford Oxford UK), Anne‐marie Boylan (0000-0001-8187-0742, Health Experiences Research Group Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences University of Oxford Oxford UK, corresponding author), Rosamund Snow (Health Experiences Research Group Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences University of Oxford Oxford UK), Sophie Staniszewska (0000-0002-7723-9074, WMS—Royal College of Nursing Research Institute University of Warwick Coventry UK)
Year2017
Volume20
Issue5
Pages836-844
Publication date2017-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.12519
PMID27885770
OpenAlexW2550381095
LanguageEN
Citations received33
References cited24

BACKGROUND: Policy-makers and health research funders increasingly require researchers to demonstrate that they have involved patients in the design and conduct of research. However, the extent to which patients and public have the power to get involved on an equal footing is dependent on their economic, cultural, social and symbolic capital. OBJECTIVE: To explore power relations in patient and public involvement (PPI) in research, particularly how patients may wield symbolic capital to develop a more equal relationship. METHODS: Narrative interviews with a maximum variation sample of 38 people involved as patients, carers or public in health research, analysed thematically. FINDINGS: Symbolic capital may be demonstrated in a range of ways (sometimes alongside or in the absence of other forms of capital): illness experience, technical illness knowledge and the challenging outsider. Symbolic capital is unstable and dependent on others for recognition and legitimacy. Nonetheless, participants identify a gradual shift in power relations over time. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Research into PPI has been conceptually and theoretically poor, limiting our understanding of its mechanisms and wider contextual elements. Our findings demonstrate the importance of reflecting on the forms of power and capital wielded by the health research community, and of acknowledging the way in which PPI is challenging the status quo. As one of the first papers to conceptualize how different forms of symbolic capital operate and their critical role in challenging the balance of power, our findings may help researchers better plan their PPI activities and reflect on their own power

Legitimacy · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Status quo · Symbolic capital · Symbolic power · The Symbolic · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare · Psychology · Social Psychology

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