At the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), we believe that patients, carers, and the public are crucial in shaping health research. One way we do this is through Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement.
Involvement focuses on patients, the public and researchers working together to develop, design and deliver research.
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) starts before research is funded which allows the research to be shaped by those with lived experience to ensure it meets their needs and priorities. Throughout the research, PPI ensures patients continue to be represented, shaping how research activity is delivered.
Towards the end of the research, PPI ensures research findings are shared in a way that is meaningful and relevant to a patient/public audience.
Engagement focuses on the sharing of research and findings with a patient and public audience. Patient and Public Engagement (PPE) can be done in various ways including events, written descriptions and presentations. PPE is improved when delivered alongside patients and the public, as it highlights the areas which are relevant to them and communicates them in an easy-to-understand way.
Participation is when people take part in research activity. Often people think of clinical trials where a medication may be taken, but it also includes taking part in interviews and completing surveys.
Our vision for PPIEP is to support meaningful research led by the patient and public voice. We aim to improve health outcomes, enhance patient experiences, and increase participation in research to build a healthcare system that truly reflects the needs of our communities.
