Background:
Consumer involvement in the editorial processes of health research journals like the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and Research Involvement and Engagement (RIE) has been undergoing significant change, and also been changing within Cochrane’s evidence production process.

This workshop will consider why patients are included in the editorial process of research journals, how different journals approach this practice, and how practice can be embedded. Issues considered will include journal governance and structure, for example, editors, Editorial Boards, and advisory boards; peer review process (e.g. from finding the reviewers to identifying the support they need); and making an impact with the right audiences, how to reach patients and the wider public.

Objectives:
The aims of this workshop are:
- to explore the benefits of consumer involvement in health journal editorial processes;
- to hear case studies of consumer involvement from the BMJ, RIE and Cochrane, including the patient perspective;
- to consider how learning from different approaches can be used better to embed consumer involvement in the future.

Description:
The workshop will consist of:
- an introduction to why we should consider public and patient involvement (PPI) in health research journas,l and editorial processes and structure.
- a presentation of case studies from Cochrane (including a Cochrane Review Group), RIE, BMJ.
- a patient perspective on involvement in the process.
- discussion groups for stages of the evidence-production cycle within journal processes, and how consumer involvement could be embedded better;
- full group discussion on how we can collaborate better and ensure continued learning from each other, the sharing of resources, collaboration in research, support, etc.;
- conclusion and summary of next steps.