Patient and public involvement in research

This Evidence Spotlight, produced in collaboration with public contributors, is intended as a starting point for critically considering the evidence base around patient and public involvement in research. It includes summaries of critically appraised, selected research listed under broad subject headings. These are accompanied by CPD activities applicable to the four pillars of the RCOT Career development framework 2021 (Professional Practice, Facilitation of Learning, Leadership, and Evidence, Research and Development) including activities related to equity, diversity and belonging. You can use our bite-sized leaning resources (details on page 4) to capture your learning. 

Introduction 

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in occupational therapy research can play a vital role in improving occupational therapy services for the people who access them. PPI is an active partnership between patients, carers and members of the public (often collectively known as public contributors) and researchers, in which research is conducted with or by public contributors rather than to, about or for them (Dennington-Price et al 2022). The UK standards for public involvement in health and social care research, identify that research should be informed by a diversity of public experience and insight, and researchers are encouraged to consider involving people affected by and interested in the research from the earliest stages (UK Public Involvement Standards Development Partnership 2019). Public contributors can be involved in a variety of ways including all aspects of research from setting research priorities (James Lind Alliance 2022, Watson et al 2021), being part of a project advisory/steering group, through to co-producing research. Involvement in projects can include formulating research questions, designing and conducting the project, disseminating the findings and making recommendations for their application in practice (National Institute for Health and Care Research 2021, UK Research and Innovation 2022).