PPI can serve different objectives at each and every stage of a research project. Below you will find several examples.
Identification and prioritization of research topics
- Help define research priorities
- Be consulted on research topics and priorities that are important to patients as service users
- Collaborate with researchers to identify research topics
- Identify research topics themselves
- Develop and revise grant proposals
Study design
- Inform the design of a research study
- Clarify the research question and affirm its importance
- Assist in ensuring that the research is ethical and acceptable to patients
- Ensure that the methods chosen are appropriate for the patients
- Assist in the design of the detailed protocol, including comprehensible consent forms
- Draft contracts and other guidance documents
- Assist in creating a recruitment strategy
- Review and comment on proposed questionnaires and data collection methods
Research execution: Data collection and recruitment
- Provide guidance throughout the research process
- Assist in the completion of patient information and consent forms
- Produce patient-friendly research updates
- (Assist in) conducting interviews and surveys and other data collection methods
Data analysis and interpretation
- Assist the research team in developing themes from the obtained data (e.g. in working, focus, or steering groups)
- Be consulted to see if patients interpret the data in the same way as the research team
- Analyse data and compare with existing literature
Communication and dissemination of results
- Advise on the different ways to disseminate results
- Present research results together with researchers
- Write information or summarize results for local patient groups, hospitals, etc.
- Co-author publications of research results
- Draft and proofread documents, especially lay versions
- Help to disseminate research results within their formal/informal networks
Implementation
- Ensure that research leads to action
- Establish relationships with key agencies and policy makers