Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research

Plain English summary Supporting people from different backgrounds to access public and patient involvement (PPI) roles in health research is important. Increasing ‘diversity’ in PPI is often thought about in terms of the demographic characteristics (eg gender, ethnicity) of people undertaking PPI r...

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Main Authors: Joanna Reynolds, Margaret Ogden, Ruth Beresford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-07-01
Series:Research Involvement and Engagement
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-021-00296-9
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author Joanna Reynolds
Margaret Ogden
Ruth Beresford
author_facet Joanna Reynolds
Margaret Ogden
Ruth Beresford
author_sort Joanna Reynolds
collection DOAJ
description Plain English summary Supporting people from different backgrounds to access public and patient involvement (PPI) roles in health research is important. Increasing ‘diversity’ in PPI is often thought about in terms of the demographic characteristics (eg gender, ethnicity) of people undertaking PPI roles. However, we also need to understand how people experience PPI differently, and what shapes their ability to become and continue being involved. We conducted in-depth and follow-up interviews with five experienced PPI contributors, and a focus group with nine professionals working in roles around PPI in health research in the UK, to explore their views and experiences of the PPI field over time. Our findings show that how health research is organised impacts the motivation of people from different backgrounds to continue doing PPI, where processes for claiming expenses for PPI work can be particularly challenging for people on a low income and / or with additional needs. Relationships with PPI professionals are important for how valued different PPI contributors feel, but professionals’ expectations of PPI roles vary and some contributors feel their experience is not always welcomed. PPI coordinators can feel pressured by researchers to recruit new, ‘more diverse’ contributors to PPI roles, and they worry that this affects the relationships they have with people already doing PPI. Our research shows the need for more support within health research structures to enable people with different backgrounds and experiences to continue to feel valued and motivated in PPI. This will help ensure health research is informed by diverse perspectives.
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spelling doaj.art-4ffef4499bd640f795e2ed4ef062d6192022-12-21T22:10:51ZengBMCResearch Involvement and Engagement2056-75292021-07-017111110.1186/s40900-021-00296-9Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health researchJoanna Reynolds0Margaret Ogden1Ruth Beresford2Department of Psychology, Sociology & Politics, Sheffield Hallam University, Heart of the CampusPublic ContributorDepartment of Psychology, Sociology & Politics, Sheffield Hallam University, Heart of the CampusPlain English summary Supporting people from different backgrounds to access public and patient involvement (PPI) roles in health research is important. Increasing ‘diversity’ in PPI is often thought about in terms of the demographic characteristics (eg gender, ethnicity) of people undertaking PPI roles. However, we also need to understand how people experience PPI differently, and what shapes their ability to become and continue being involved. We conducted in-depth and follow-up interviews with five experienced PPI contributors, and a focus group with nine professionals working in roles around PPI in health research in the UK, to explore their views and experiences of the PPI field over time. Our findings show that how health research is organised impacts the motivation of people from different backgrounds to continue doing PPI, where processes for claiming expenses for PPI work can be particularly challenging for people on a low income and / or with additional needs. Relationships with PPI professionals are important for how valued different PPI contributors feel, but professionals’ expectations of PPI roles vary and some contributors feel their experience is not always welcomed. PPI coordinators can feel pressured by researchers to recruit new, ‘more diverse’ contributors to PPI roles, and they worry that this affects the relationships they have with people already doing PPI. Our research shows the need for more support within health research structures to enable people with different backgrounds and experiences to continue to feel valued and motivated in PPI. This will help ensure health research is informed by diverse perspectives.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-021-00296-9InvolvementPatientPublicPPIHealth researchQualitative
spellingShingle Joanna Reynolds
Margaret Ogden
Ruth Beresford
Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
Research Involvement and Engagement
Involvement
Patient
Public
PPI
Health research
Qualitative
title Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
title_full Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
title_fullStr Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
title_full_unstemmed Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
title_short Conceptualising and constructing ‘diversity’ through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
title_sort conceptualising and constructing diversity through experiences of public and patient involvement in health research
topic Involvement
Patient
Public
PPI
Health research
Qualitative
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-021-00296-9
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