Joint Research Office

How do I involve patients or the public in research?

Patients and public can be involved in the research process in several different ways:

• consultation – for instance by asking people to comment on a research proposal
• collaboration – for instance by inviting people to sit on a steering group
• patient-led research – for instance where patients are co-applicants.

The Research Design Service London suggests that the different stages of the research process where PPI can be incorporated are:

• identifying research priorities
• design of a research project
• development of the grant proposal
• undertaking research, for instance by conducting interviews
• analysing and interpreting data
• dissemination of findings
• implementation of findings
• monitoring and evaluation of the research.

Researchers who make the involvement of users and the public an inherent part of their research also gain a huge source of practical help and solutions.

Patients and the public can:

• look at research from a practical point of view and make positive recommendations, suggesting for instance more meaningful and reliable outcome measures, effective timing, improved recruitment procedures
• help improve the language and accessibility of patient information and invitation letters
• carry out recruitment or interviewing
• provide access to different communities
• act as advocates and disseminators of research findings.