Patient & Public Involvement (PPI)
What is PPI?
PPI is the involvement of the public, often those with lived experiences related to the research, in the research process. This involvement can take many forms including but not limited to helping write lay summaries and being an active contributor to research design and execution. PPI in research can take many forms, all of which aid in the production of better, more engaging research.
Why PPI?
Getting patients and the public involved in research can provide insight into what is important to patients and provide a different perspective than either the researcher or healthcare professional. This helps ensure the right questions are being asked resulting in stronger funding applications and better research.
Getting Started
There are many different ways having PPI within a project can benefit so the first step would be to decide what you want to get from it? How can the project benefit? How does it benefit the PPI group? There are four main stages that PPI can be involved in a project:
1) Deciding what to research
2) Helping design the research plan
3) With the research itself - i.e. patient groups
4) Disseminating the research to the public.
Once you have decided this there are some guidelines and resources below to help get you started.
Resources & Templates
Advice on Costing for PPI
Expenses should be paid for in advance where possible (e.g. purchase train tickets for public members on their behalf) or reimbursed to the public member.
It is also best practise to offer an honorary payment in addition to expenses to recognise the individuals expertise and also supports those that might not otherwise be able to get involved.
Additional payments could be in money or vouchers.
Providing lunch/snacks and refreshments at meetings also contributes to thanking people for their time.
You will also need to cost in catering and any room hire costs for meetings.
Guide for Payments
Based on guidance on NIHR PPI Page
Be aware that some participants may be on benefits and receiving payments that are above the weekly limit may result in benefits being stopped. As a researcher you are not in a position to offer advice on benefits but you can advise individuals to seek independent advice and access the Benefits Advice Service.
National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) PPI-E Groups
If you would like to be involved as a PPI-E representative within the NRC PPI-E group please fill out this expression of interest form and someone will be in touch with you.
The NRC PPI-E network meets every two months and is currently open to academics/staff from the University of Nottingham, Loughborough University or Nottingham University Hospital. To submit a proposal for consideration for the network please download the form below and email to nrc@nottingham.ac.uk