Balance of power – do patients use researchers to survive hospital?

The case study presented here suggests that patient participants may be 'using' researchers to further their own agenda and to attempt to manipulate or control aspects of their care within the hospital setting.

Abstract

This paper focuses on the way research study participants interpret their contact with researchers. Much has been made of the unequal power relationship between researcher and researched, but the case study presented here suggests that patient participants may be 'using' researchers to further their own agenda and to attempt to manipulate or control aspects of their care within the hospital setting.