Public & Patient Involvement in Research (PPI)

Patient & Public involvement is at the heart of the Health Service Executive (HSE), St. James’s Hospital and the Clinical Research Facility (CRF). Participating in Clinical Research can assist in delivering a quality health service, can enhance patient outcomes and provide excellent partnerships between patients and clinical staff.

• The CRF PPI ‘HEART’ initiative is concerned with empowering individuals to have a voice within the research process at all stages. 

What is Patient & Public Involvement in Research?

• “Research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them” (INVOLVE, 2014)
• The goal of effective PPI is to create a valued partnership between the public, patients & researchers to ultimately improve research quality, relevance & outcomes (IHR, 2015).

Why involve patient & public members in research?

• To ensure patients are informed about research that is relevant to them.
• To understand their needs & what they what.
• Improve design, conduct & dissemination of research.
• To make a difference to  patient & population health outcomes

The role of PPI Officer in SJH CRF:-

• Plans and facilitates PPI involvement, participation and engagement.
• Develops PPI initiatives with tangible goals e.g. vidi-script on hospital wi-fi informing users of the CRF and ongoing research within the Hospital.
• Provides advice and guidance on involving patients and public in research
• Assists with the PPI section of research proposals
• Acting as a liaison between investigators and patient groups
• Facilitates PPI groups
• Helps disseminate research results to the public

For more information, contact Eilis at eiotoole@tcd.ie or 014103930