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Involvement

Involving patients and the public

Public involvement

What is PPI

Patient and public involvement in research (PPI) is an important part of any research process. In clinical research, developing new treatments and ways of care, the importance of the voices of these groups is obvious, as they are the ones receiving care. In clinical education research, it is important for the same reason – education and training has a direct effect on the care patients receive, as well as wider public perceptions of professionals.

We are committed to promoting the development and expansion of PPI involvement in clinical education research. Social accountability is key to ensure education and education research is conducted with dignity, respect and relevance to all those involved. There are a range of relevant stakeholders in clinical education research. These include:

  • Patients and/or Public
  • Carers
  • Learners
  • Teachers
  • Governance (e.g. assessors)
  • Education and Clinical institution representatives

PPI can be embedded throughout the cycle of research. This can range from suggesting research topics, to refining research questions, through to interpretation of study findings and supporting dissemination of findings to key and relevant audiences.

PPI is important. We all view and make sense of the world from a particular perspective. Ensuring we engage with a wide range of diverse people, maximises opportunities for increasing the range of perspectives we use to inform research. PPI conversations might be a one-off conversation, through to sustained involvement throughout a project. Increasingly, patient and public partners collaborate with researchers, forming part of the research team. Available resources to conduct research can vary and might determine the scope of PPI possible at a particular time.

Our PPI work

Currently, we are developing two PPI strands:

  1. A community of practice for clinical education researchers interested to learn more about PPI
  2. A community of practice for PPI interested in being involved in clinical education research.

NIHR Incubator Clinical Education Research PPI Working Group Members are currently:

  • Prof Sophie Park (co-chair)
  • Ms Cecily Henry (PPI co-chair)
  • Ms Margaret Ogden (PPI member)
  • Dr Adedoyin Alao (member)
  • Dr Lily Lamb (member)
  • Dr Marina Politis (member)
  • Dr Luisa Wakeling (member)

Get involved

Are you a clinical education researcher interested to learn more about PPI?

Top tips on getting started:

  • Dedicate time to building respectful and trusting relationships
  • Pace yourself (listen, be realistic)
  • Be honest (e.g. scope, expectations, preferences, work patterns)
  • Plan resources (e.g. time, PPI Leadership, financial support)
  • Start early (and ideally build in PPI perspectives throughout the process)
  • Iterative evaluation (seek feedback so you can learn together to inform next steps)

Are you a patient/public member/carer interested to learn more about clinical education research?

Your expertise can make a significant difference to clinical education research. We are keen to hear from you if you are interested to get involved.

We aim to support the UK Standards for Public Involvement recommendations.

We use the INVOLVE rates to cover £25/hour expenses for PPI time (to be agreed in advance) to support attendance at meetings and (where needed) preparation or review of materials.

We are currently establishing a Clinical Education Research Public Partners Group. This has two aims:

  • To strategically inform the work of the NIHR Incubator for Clinical Education Research.
  • To build a community of interested PPI who can support opportunities to input into development of clinical education research projects, funding panel applications etc.

If you are interested to hear more, please email the Incubator or use our contact form.