The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students
Abstract Background While the integration of patient and public involvement (PPI) in clinical research is now widespread and recommended as standard practice, meaningful PPI in pre-clinical, discovery science research is more difficult to achieve. One potential way to address this is by integrating...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Rheumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-023-00359-2 |
| _version_ | 1797451144257077248 |
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| author | Gwenda Simons Rebecca Birch Joanne Stocks Elspeth Insch Rob Rijckborst Georgiana Neag Heidi McColm Leigh Romaniuk Claire Wright Bethan E. Phillips Simon W. Jones Arthur G. Pratt Stefan Siebert Karim Raza Marie Falahee |
| author_facet | Gwenda Simons Rebecca Birch Joanne Stocks Elspeth Insch Rob Rijckborst Georgiana Neag Heidi McColm Leigh Romaniuk Claire Wright Bethan E. Phillips Simon W. Jones Arthur G. Pratt Stefan Siebert Karim Raza Marie Falahee |
| author_sort | Gwenda Simons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While the integration of patient and public involvement (PPI) in clinical research is now widespread and recommended as standard practice, meaningful PPI in pre-clinical, discovery science research is more difficult to achieve. One potential way to address this is by integrating PPI into the training programmes of discovery science postgraduate doctoral students. This paper describes the development and formative evaluation of the Student Patient Alliance (SPA), a programme developed at the University of Birmingham that connects PPI partners with doctoral students. Methods Following a successful pilot of the SPA by the Rheumatology Research Group at the University of Birmingham, the scheme was implemented across several collaborating Versus Arthritis / Medical Research Council (MRC) centres of excellence. Doctoral students were partnered with PPI partners, provided with initial information and guidance, and then encouraged to work together on research and public engagement activities. After six months, students, their PPI partners and the PPI coordinators at each centre completed brief surveys about their participation in the SPA. Results Both doctoral students and their PPI partners felt that taking part in SPA had a positive impact on understanding, motivation and communication skills. Students reported an increased understanding of PPI and patient priorities and reported improved public engagement skills. Their PPI partners reported a positive impact of the collaboration with the students. They enjoyed learning about the student’s research and contributing to the student’s personal development. PPI coordinators also highlighted the benefits of the SPA, but noted some challenges they had experienced, such as difficulties matching students with PPI partners. Conclusions The SPA was valued by students and PPI partners, and it is likely that initiatives of this kind would enhance students’ PPI and public engagement skills and awareness of patients’ experiences on a wider scale. However, appropriate resources are needed at an institutional level to support the implementation of effective programmes of this kind on a larger scale. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:49:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7d622988a2849418b8cd732ef1219f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2520-1026 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:49:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Rheumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7d622988a2849418b8cd732ef1219f02023-11-26T14:32:25ZengBMCBMC Rheumatology2520-10262023-10-017111310.1186/s41927-023-00359-2The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral studentsGwenda Simons0Rebecca Birch1Joanne Stocks2Elspeth Insch3Rob Rijckborst4Georgiana Neag5Heidi McColm6Leigh Romaniuk7Claire Wright8Bethan E. Phillips9Simon W. Jones10Arthur G. Pratt11Stefan Siebert12Karim Raza13Marie Falahee14Rheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of BirminghamResearch & Knowledge Transfer Office, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of BirminghamNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of NottinghamRheumatology Research Patient Partnership, University of BirminghamRheumatology Research Patient Partnership, University of BirminghamRheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of BirminghamNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSchool of Infection and Immunity, University of GlasgowCentre of Metabolism, Ageing & Physiology (COMAP), University of Nottingham, Royal Derby HospitalMRC- Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Institute for Inflammation and Ageing, University of BirminghamNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSchool of Infection and Immunity, University of GlasgowRheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of BirminghamRheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of BirminghamAbstract Background While the integration of patient and public involvement (PPI) in clinical research is now widespread and recommended as standard practice, meaningful PPI in pre-clinical, discovery science research is more difficult to achieve. One potential way to address this is by integrating PPI into the training programmes of discovery science postgraduate doctoral students. This paper describes the development and formative evaluation of the Student Patient Alliance (SPA), a programme developed at the University of Birmingham that connects PPI partners with doctoral students. Methods Following a successful pilot of the SPA by the Rheumatology Research Group at the University of Birmingham, the scheme was implemented across several collaborating Versus Arthritis / Medical Research Council (MRC) centres of excellence. Doctoral students were partnered with PPI partners, provided with initial information and guidance, and then encouraged to work together on research and public engagement activities. After six months, students, their PPI partners and the PPI coordinators at each centre completed brief surveys about their participation in the SPA. Results Both doctoral students and their PPI partners felt that taking part in SPA had a positive impact on understanding, motivation and communication skills. Students reported an increased understanding of PPI and patient priorities and reported improved public engagement skills. Their PPI partners reported a positive impact of the collaboration with the students. They enjoyed learning about the student’s research and contributing to the student’s personal development. PPI coordinators also highlighted the benefits of the SPA, but noted some challenges they had experienced, such as difficulties matching students with PPI partners. Conclusions The SPA was valued by students and PPI partners, and it is likely that initiatives of this kind would enhance students’ PPI and public engagement skills and awareness of patients’ experiences on a wider scale. However, appropriate resources are needed at an institutional level to support the implementation of effective programmes of this kind on a larger scale.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-023-00359-2Patient and public involvementDiscovery scienceDoctoral studentsRheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. |
| spellingShingle | Gwenda Simons Rebecca Birch Joanne Stocks Elspeth Insch Rob Rijckborst Georgiana Neag Heidi McColm Leigh Romaniuk Claire Wright Bethan E. Phillips Simon W. Jones Arthur G. Pratt Stefan Siebert Karim Raza Marie Falahee The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students BMC Rheumatology Patient and public involvement Discovery science Doctoral students Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. |
| title | The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students |
| title_full | The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students |
| title_fullStr | The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students |
| title_short | The student patient alliance: development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students |
| title_sort | student patient alliance development and formative evaluation of an initiative to support collaborations between patient and public involvement partners and doctoral students |
| topic | Patient and public involvement Discovery science Doctoral students Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-023-00359-2 |
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