Why you should read this article:

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To appreciate the essential role that involving patients and the public plays in research design

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To understand how collaboration with patients can help identify important research areas

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To benefit from a practical example of patient group collaboration in the design and delivery of a study

Background In recent years, the value of patient and public involvement (PPI) in developing research has become apparent. Patients and service users have insights that are essential to successfully developing and completing research. PPI collaborations may improve the scope, quality, relevance and impact of research. Nevertheless, there are challenges for nurse researchers in ensuring effective PPI is embedded in research proposals and practice.

Aim To discuss the practical aspects of developing a PPI group, including one approach to convening a PPI group, and provide examples of where a PPI group has refined and improved the design of research.

Discussion Directly inviting patients and members of the public to collaborate in the research resulted in successful working relationships and tangible improvements to a study’s methodology. None of the patients approached had considered collaborating in research before and so would not have been reached by any other means.

Conclusion There are several approaches nurse researchers can take to convene a PPI group, including open forums and relevant charity groups. The authors’ experience was broadly successful, although future research would involve collaboration with other teams to recruit more diverse groups.

Implications for practice Nurse researchers are ideally placed to collaborate with patients and members of the public in designing and delivering research.