Patient Research Advisory Group/PPI
What do we do?
The WWL Patient & Public Involvement & Engagement group (PPIE) has been running for over ten years now and has grown in membership and experience. However, we are always looking for new patients and public members to join our group and would like to ensure we have a diverse membership with a broad range of interests and experiences.
The PPIE group is made up of ordinary people who have experienced being a patient, carer, or a service user.
We are looking for people to join our group to offer their advice and experience as users of the NHS and to have an input into the research that is to be carried out locally. You can contribute as little or as much as you feel comfortable with and as often or as little as you are able.
...and why?
Research is a vital part of the work we do here at WWL, and we are continuously aiming to improve patient care through research.
When NHS researchers develop their research ideas, it is important that it seeks to answer questions that are relevant clinically but also important to the patients and their carers too.
Patient & Public Involvement & Engagement in research refers to an active partnership between members of the public and researchers. This means that members of the public work alongside the research team and are actively involved in contributing to the research process as advisers and possibly as co-researchers.
- Our aims
The PPIE group aims to offer advice to NHS researchers from a patient/carer perspective, considering the requirements and needs of the patient. We may be asked to review a proposed research project or a patient information sheet to check that is clear, readable, and acceptable. We are also able to give researchers personal insights about our experiences and we can help to influence the way that the research will be carried out.
Our aims are:
• To involve patients, public, carers and service users, to work in collaboration with researchers at WWL
• To help to develop research questions and design ways to answer them by working alongside researchers
• Promote and champion the benefit of PPIE in research
• To act as Co-Applicant working as members of teams to develop grant applications to secure funding to carry out research
• To improve patient outcomes
- Examples of our work:
We continue to support large grant applications to the National Institute of Research (NIHR) and to work collaboratively with the study teams to reach publication.
It is important to work with up-and-coming researchers, to help develop their research ideas and ambitions to become leaders of research in the future. We meet with staff to offer feedback and guidance on their ideas and to support their development in research.
- Our members tell us:
“I really enjoy meeting and working with people with a range of different backgrounds and conditions. Everybody has something different to contribute and are all really friendly and supportive. I feel I have learnt something new after every meeting and also have a greater insight into my own condition. It has also been interesting to meet medical staff and researchers from both within the trust and from other establishments.”
“I feel we are increasingly being seen as a resource which can provide support and add value to a range of research proposals and ongoing projects.”
“Hopefully our discussions have given researchers a greater insight into their work from a patient’s perspective.”
“I am an ordinary member of the public with no specific medical knowledge. I come to each task with an open mind and look at the proposals from a lay persons view point. I ask questions about things I do not understand so the researchers can see if clarification needs to be added to their proposal.”
“I feel as though I am doing something useful.”
“I enjoy meeting new, interesting people who bring a variety of life skills to the group.”
“I try to bring an open non-medical mind and patient’s point of view by clarification of the why and how the research will benefit the patients”.
“I feel that my contributions were valued. I have enjoyed and learnt from hearing the life lessons of my fellow volunteers, prompted by the research topics under discussion. I feel that barriers to conversations with clinicians are broken down. This has given me an excellent insight into the process of the whys and the wherefores for research and barriers to gaining funding for research projects.”
“I know speaking to family and friends about research most do not understand what it entails and how much work and time is involved in the process. I personally find that the meetings are very interesting and that we can be involved in a variety of subjects. I feel my opinion matters.”
- Our Researchers tell us:
“The patient research advisory group is a great asset to the Trust. I am an early career researcher and have been guided by them at various stages of research. I have approached the group for developing multiple research projects and they have been kind enough to read through research documents and provide valuable feedback. Their feedback ensures that the research projects at WWL Trust as easily understandable and accessible for potential participants.”
“Following a lengthy consultation with the group I was able to modify interview questions to make them easier to understand, relevant and comprehensible. The group helped me to refine my thinking around the interviews, ensuring that I was capturing the most important aspects for patients regarding their fatigue experiences.”
“I would like to extend my thanks to the patient research partner group for their interest, support and enthusiasm for our project. Particularly, I am extremely grateful for the relationship we have been able to develop over the last 4 years and their warm welcome and engagement during and after our meetings. I would also like to thank all the patients and healthcare professionals who participated in my research studies.”
Do you want to get involved with Research at WWL?
Being a member of the group is entirely voluntary and no special qualifications are needed.
If you would like to join the group or would like more information, please contact Helen Spickett, Research Sponsorship Manager via e-mail: helen.spickett@wwl.nhs.uk or Tel: 0300 7077293
Useful links
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/patients-carers-and-the-public/
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/our-key-priorities/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/