Public involvement in setting a national research agenda: a mixed methods evaluation.

Background: : A growing body of literature supports the inclusion of patients, other service users, and the wider public in guiding health technology assessment, particularly in relation to interventions and outcomes for evaluative studies.

Objective: : To describe the input and influence of public involvement in setting the agenda for a national research program.

Methods: : The data source was the commissioned research of the UK National Health Service Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program, 1999-2004.