Patient and public involvement
Patient and public involvement (PPI) plays an increasingly important role in our work. People with lived experience of health conditions, as well as members of the wider public, provide valuable insight and feedback throughout research projects.
What do public contributors do?
PPI is not the same as participating in a research study. PPI contributors work with researchers to advise and provide feedback on research.
Public contributors meet with researchers regularly (this might be anything from once a month to once or twice a year). They are involved with research in a range of ways. Examples include:
- Giving feedback on grant proposals
- Guiding plans for involving the public
- Advising on wording in recruitment of participants to research proposals
- Highlighting gaps, for example in populations studied or potential risk factors
- Helping write lay summaries.
What are the benefits to research?
Involving the public in research is often a requirement of funders. However, the benefits are much greater than satisfying grant requirements.
PPI is important because it:
- Ensures that patients’ voices are heard and can influence research and policy
- Gives unique and personal perspectives on research area
- Improves the quality of research
- Help in addressing inequalities in health research
- Ensures research is conducted appropriately
- Improves accountability of research
- Increases trust between researchers and public
- Helps ensure research is relevant to those from diverse backgrounds
- Helps researchers' own skill development.
What are the benefits for contributors?
Being involved in research as a member of the public also has benefits. Involving members of the public:
- Enables members of the public to use their own health experiences in positive way
- Provides an opportunity to learn about something new and different
- Gives an opportunity to have positive impact on health research
- Ensures research is meaningful and relevant to patients' and carers' needs
- Enables the general public to see the importance of investing in their own health
- Supports development of skills and confidence
How do we ensure PPI is done appropriately?
Health research often covers topics that are difficult and potentially upsetting to members of the public, especially those with lived experiences of the subject of the research. PPI in research projects does not usually require ethics approval. However, we have developed a checklist to ensure that potentially difficult issues are anticipated and handled sensitively and appropriately. This checklist also prompts researchers to consider accessibility of PPI work and compliance with rules and best practice around data protection and working with young people and vulnerable adults.
- Read and download the checklist: Questions to consider in developing Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)
We also work with PPI contributors to develop Terms of Reference and/or Codes of Practice at the start of projects to set expectations for both contributors and researchers.
If you are interested in advising on our research or learning more about how to get involved, please email phs-ieuengagement@bristol.ac.uk.
Call for Members of the Public to be Involved in Public Health Research: Legacy Cohort Studies
We are looking for people to provide insight, advice and feedback on research using legacy cohort studies from across the UK but particularly in parts of South Wales, Bristol and Scotland. These studies, some of which were started nearly a century ago, were conducted to improve the understanding of factors which could impact on health in later life. Data from these studies is still very valuable for health research today.
Watch this video to learn more
Contact: phs-ieuengagement@bristol.ac.uk for more information and to register interest. The advisory group will begin meeting in Summer 2025.
