Nothing about us without us: The what, why and how of patient and public involvement and engagement

To ensure that research and its outcomes meets the needs of patients and public it is vital that they are engaged and involved in its design and delivery. But how can we ensure that their involvement is meaningful? 

This online learner-led course is designed for and with patients, public and researchers. You will learn about the what, why and how of patient and public involvement and engagement in health and social care research. In this five-module course you will:

• Explore what patient and public involvement and engagement in health and social care research is and why it is so important
• Reflect on the techniques for sharing power and developing relationships to ensure the patient and public voice is heard and has an impact
• Understand the UK public involvement standards which will give you a framework to plan and critique patient and public involvement in any given research scenario
• Develop and apply solutions to common issues and challenges in patient and public involvement and engagement.

Course Description

This course is ideal for those who are new to or need a refresher on patient and public involvement in research:

• Researchers
• Students
• Staff working in patient and public involvement and engagement

This course is also suitable for public contributors

Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe what is meant by patient and public engagement and involvement in research
• Recognise the value and benefits of involving patients and the public in health research
• Differentiate between the different approaches to patient and public involvement  
• Apply the UK public involvement standards to various research scenarios  
• Evaluate the quality of patient and public involvement in a given research scenario