Giving a Voice to Marginalised Groups for Health Care Decision Making

Internationally, there is broader inclusion of the consumer voice in decisions about healthcare resource allocation; initiatives like the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) in Canada and INVOLVE in the UK focus on expanded consumer representation in forming and enacting health policy [1, 2]. In part, the success of these initiatives will depend on inclusive representation. Representation refects both who is given a voice and whose preferences are captured in health care decision making and policy setting [35]. For marginalised groups (those who are socially excluded, find it difficult to be heard or who researchers struggle to reach), achieving representation is a challenge. Challenges arise in asking the right people the right questions and doing so in a manner that reflects and captures their values.