Generating research ideas workshops with patients and the public

People in Health West of England, CLAHRC West’s joint patient and public involvement team, are helping researchers to identify research questions that are important to patients, service users and families. Alongside CLAHRC West’s recent call for research proposals from health professionals, People in Health West of England have run four ‘research ideas’ workshops around the region for patients and the public.

Members of the public who came along had the opportunity to develop their ideas around issues they feel are important, into research questions. The workshops, run by Andy Gibson and Rosie Davies, were lively and positively received by those who came along. The ideas are being submitted to CLAHRC West researchers for consideration, and we hope some will be developed into new research projects.

Around 30 members of the public have taken part in these workshops in Bath, Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon during February and March. People came along with areas of concern and ideas based on their own personal or family experiences of health problems and health care. At each event participants were supported to turn their ideas into potential research questions. Following the workshops, those who attended were encouraged to submit their ideas by 18 March.

People had questions about a wide variety of health issues, including heart conditions, mental health issues, stroke and dementia. Some ideas were focused on rarer conditions and more specific problems like ear hygiene, the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions, support for new mothers to breast feed, and the emotional impacts of loss of eyesight. One focused on the potential for increased access to hydrotherapy pools for people with long term conditions like muscular dystrophy to improve pain management, and maintain strength and flexibility.

Several ideas focused on the benefits of exercise and weight loss for back problems, joint problems and improving mental wellbeing. Another theme was about people with multiple health conditions, and family concerns that professionals didn’t seem have an overview of all the drugs being taken, and worries about potential drug interactions, multiple-drug side effects and a potential waste of prescriptions and resources.

Other general concerns were about the experience of older patients being admitted to hospital who were unsure about hospital routines, who was who and what all the different uniforms signified, and this leading to increased dependency and loss of confidence. One idea focused on the benefit of early emotional support to families with experiences of emotional problems or where there had been abuse.

We are now reviewing all the ideas that have been submitted.  The review process will take some time, but everyone who submits an idea will receive feedback from the team.