Patient and public involvement (PPI) in UK surgical trials: a survey and focus groups with stakeholders to identify practices, views and experiences

Joanna C. Crocker (Corresponding Author), Keira Pratt-Boyden, Jenny Hislop, Sian Rees, Louise Locock, Sophie Olszowski, Alan Chant, Shaun Treweek, Jonathan A. Cook, Kerry Woolfall, Nicola Farrar, Jennifer Bostock, Richard Bulbulia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background and aims
Historically, patient and public involvement (PPI) in the design and conduct of surgical trials has been absent or minimal, but it is now routinely recommended and even required by some research funders. We aimed to identify and describe current PPI practice in surgical trials in the United Kingdom, and to explore the views and experiences of surgical trial staff and patient or public contributors in relation to these practices. This was part of a larger study to inform development of a robust PPI intervention aimed at improving recruitment and retention in surgical trials.

Methods
Our study had two stages: 1) an online survey to identify current PPI practice in active UK-led, adult surgical trials; and 2) focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders (surgical trial investigators, administrators, and patient or public contributors) to explore their views and experiences of PPI.

Results
Of 129 eligible surgical trial teams identified, 71 (55%) took part in the survey. In addition, 54 stakeholders subsequently took part in focus groups or interviews. Sixty-five (92%) survey respondents reported some kind of PPI, most commonly at the design and dissemination stages and in oversight or advisory roles. The single most common PPI activity was developing participant information sheets (72%). Participants reported mixed practice and views on a variety of issues including the involvement of patients versus lay members of the public, recruitment methods, use of role descriptions and payment for the time of PPI contributors. They suggested some solutions, including the use of written role descriptions and databases of potential PPI contributors to aid recruitment.

Conclusions
UK surgical trials involve patients and members of the public in a variety of different ways, most commonly at the beginning and end of the trial lifecycle and in oversight or advisory roles. These are not without challenges and there remain uncertainties about who best to involve, why, and how. Future research should aim to address these issues.
Original languageEnglish
Article number119
Number of pages15
JournalTrials
Volume20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Feb 2019

Bibliographical note

This research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) (NIHR-BRC-1215-20008) and by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (MR/L004933/1-N66), as part of the wider PIRRIST project. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health. The funders had no input into the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or manuscript writing.

Keywords

  • Patient and public involvement (PPI)
  • surgery
  • survey
  • focus group
  • clinical trial
  • Survey
  • Surgery
  • Clinical trial
  • Focus group

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Patient and public involvement (PPI) in UK surgical trials: a survey and focus groups with stakeholders to identify practices, views and experiences'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this