Table 2.

Key themes.

Initial category	Final theme
Role of public partners: they are a necessary and valued part of team with a unique perspective	The value and contribution of public partners
PI not valued by parts of the scientific establishment
Public partners need support, training and management	A co-opted relationship
Public partners are empowered through their involvement
Public partners are grateful for the opportunity
Need to build trust/relationships between researchers and the public partners	Equal partners
Need to share power between researchers and the public
User led research	A user-led relationship
Governance and bureaucracy of research creates logistical challenges	Constraints/barriers linked to public involvement in applied health research
Research is time pressured and public involvement is time consuming
Accountability
Hierarchy of applied health research