Key stakeholders’ views, experiences and expectations of public and patient involvement and engagement in healthcare professionals education: a qualitative exploration

Name of Study

Purpose of Study

The primary research question of this focus group study is to investigate what are the views, experiences and expectations of the public (patient advocates and carers) and patients on public and patient involvement and engagement (PPI/E) in the education of healthcare professionals. We aim to address how the public and patients would like to be involved in healthcare education, what they expect to receive as a result of their participation and what motivates them to become involved in PPI/E. This will be answered primarily based on the information acquired during the focus group sessions. Many studies have demonstrated that not only is it feasible to have patient and public involvement in education but that such involvement has the capacity for motivating students by fostering empathy, demonstrating the relevance of learning and encouraging the development of key professional skills such as communication. Despite the well-documented benefits of PPI/E, patient involvement in education is currently at a low level. However, attempts are being made by academic institutions to expand patient involvement so that they act as central participants in the delivery of education and in the design of curricula. The data generated by this study will help form recommendations for the development of a strategic framework of PPI/E activities for academic institutes that assures public and patient benefits, addresses their expectations and concerns, while achieving a high level of public and patient involvement in education.

Type of Study (observational/exploratory etc)

Qualitative (focus group discussions)

Are you recruiting participants for this trail?

Yes

Geographical location of study

Patient lounge room (room 314), Number 26 York Street, The Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin

Who can take part?

Patients, patient advocates and carers over 18 years old

What will the participants be asked to do?

If you agree to take part in the study, you will be invited to participate in a discussion around PPI/E in education in the patient lounge room (room 314) in 26 York Street, RCSI via email. All participants will be asked to read the emails and forms attached carefully and to email the researcher is they have any questions about the study. On the day of the focus group study you will have another opportunity to ask the researcher any questions and once you understand what the study entails you will be asked to sign consent forms, which will be supplied by the researcher. The focus group discussion will then begin. Prompt questions will be asked by the researcher to help guide the discussion. Participants in the focus group discussion will be asked to keep the information collected during the discussion confidential.

The focus group will be recorded, however all personal information including names will be removed from the transcriptions prior to analysis. Participants will be given the opportunity to review, edit or erase their transcriptions up to 14 days after the transcription is made. After this 14-day review period all audio recordings will be destroyed, therefore making it impossible to identify your contribution to the focus group discussion, thus assuring that your privacy is maintained.

These focus group discussions will be held in the patient lounge room in number 26 York Street, RCSI, Dublin on the following dates.

· Group A: Friday 22nd February at 10:00am to 11:30am

· Group B: Wednesday 27th February at 10:00am to 11:30am

Participants will only be asked to attend one of these focus group discussions (Group A or B).

Recruitment Start Date

05/02/2019

Recruitment Finish Date

20/02/2019

Study Duration

Each focus group discussion will last around 90 minutes.

This study is funded by:

RCSI