Enhancing Public and Patient Involvement

In recent years, research methodologies have adopted a more inclusive approach, emphasising the involvement of stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. This shift stems from recognising the value of actively involving patient and public partners, focusing on co-designing research and ensuring meaningful engagement throughout the research process. Historically, research participants have been known to play a passive role. However, ‘involvement’ seeks to engage the public as co-leads and collaborators rather than limiting their contribution solely to participation. This promotes equitable power and sharing of responsibility between researchers and those affected by the research. The establishment of the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) group at the Clinical Trials Unit of Ziauddin University is a significant step towards fostering this collaboration. The creation of the PPIE group aims to ensure research acceptability, relevance, and benefits to patients and the public; an aim shared by the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL).

PILL’s established Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) efforts have equipped them with the experience, knowledge and tools to excel in engagement processes. Thus, they can offer insights and resources to support the development of the PPIE group framework. These documents have provided the coordinating team with a reference to ensure that all prepared output materials align with best practices in community engagement.

By inviting a PPIE coordinator to partake in their weekly meetings, PILL CEI has allowed the coordinating team at Ziauddin to understand the group’s operations and apply this learning to their own setting. A notable aspect of working with PILL CEI is the opportunity to engage with their international and local partners. Meetings with international collaborators provides dialogue with experts from diverse backgrounds, each contributing their unique insights into community engagement. Additionally, interactions with local field workers provide real-world experiences, challenges and insights into community engagement on the ground in Pakistan. These interactions within low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are essential to build peer support and communities of practice.

In summary, the working relationship between PILL CEI and Ziauddin University PPIE demonstrates the strength of partnerships in promoting the involvement of the public and patients in healthcare research. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, united by a shared interest, they have cultivated an atmosphere of cooperation and knowledge sharing. These partnerships have offered local collaborators an understanding of global efforts, while also providing local perspectives to international collaborators. As the Ziauddin University PPIE group advances and broadens its reach, the lasting influence of this collaboration will serve as a guiding framework for driving positive changes in healthcare research and practice.

For more information about the PPIE group at Ziauddin University, please visit: https://zu.edu.pk/ppie/