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Researchers at the Universities of Keele, Birmingham and UCL are working with patients who have experience of involvement in primary care research. The 'Exploring the costs and consequences of patient and public involvement' project aims to identify the range of PPI activities taking place within the SPCR and to explore associated costs (financial and non-financial) and consequences for organisations, researchers and patients involved.

Language in osteoarthritis consultations at the Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University
Language in osteoarthritis consultations at the Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University

The project has five components: (1) analysis of documents containing information about PPI within the SPCR (2) an electronic survey for researchers (3) a postal survey for PPI representatives (4) observations of research meetings with PPI (5) an exploratory willingness to pay survey to determine how much members of funding panels are prepared to pay for PPI.

We are requesting the help of Principal Investigators (PIs) of projects funded by the SPCR in completing an electronic survey about their perspective on the costs and consequences of PPI. A questionnaire has been sent to PIs for each SPCR-funded project that they lead or have led. The questionnaire includes items on various aspects of PPI in their project(s), such as the type and extent of involvement, financial and non-financial costs, and perceptions of the impact of PPI. PIs are also invited to share any documents containing information about PPI within their SPCR projects, for example minutes of meetings, and to pass on a patient survey to PPI representatives who have been involved in their projects.

Finally, if PIs have any forthcoming SPCR project meetings involving patients and members of the public which they would be willing for us to observe, we would be very grateful. The project will finish in January 2015 and results will be published shortly afterwards. Findings will increase the evidence base on the costs and impact of PPI, and will be used to develop recommendations for improving PPI practice in primary care research.  

Please contact Sarah MacLachlan for further information.