For the public
Help shape primary care research
Primary care is healthcare delivered in community settings, including general practice, pharmacies, dental practices and optometry services. The NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) funds research that aims to improve these services and the care people receive.
We work with patients, carers, service users and communities to ensure that primary care research reflects people’s priorities and helps improve health and care services.
There is no need for previous research experience to become a public partner. We welcome people from all backgrounds and provide guidance, resources and training to support your involvement.
If you are new to public involvement in research, the NIHR Starting Out Guide is a useful introduction to health research, public involvement and the different ways you can contribute.
Why get involved?
Public partners help researchers understand what matters most to patients, carers and communities. By sharing your experiences and perspectives, you can influence the design, delivery and impact of research, helping to make it more relevant, inclusive and meaningful.
The video below features members of the public sharing their experiences of research involvement, what motivated them to take part, and the difference they feel they have made.
Get Involved
Primary care research has the greatest impact when it is informed by the experiences and perspectives of patients, carers and communities. Public partners can contribute in many ways, from reviewing study materials and helping to develop research ideas to advising researchers throughout a project.
There are no formal requirements to become a public partner, although some opportunities may be aimed at people with experience of particular health conditions, services or communities.
If you are interested in getting involved, you can contact one of the SPCR member universities listed below to learn more about local opportunities and register your interest. Alternatively, you can contact a local PPIE lead for further information on how to get involved.
- University of Bristol
- University of Exeter
- Keele University
- University of Manchester
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- University of Southampton
- University College London
Resources & Guidance
Useful guidance
Understanding public involvement roles
- Defining roles for public contributors in health and care research (NIHR)
-
Public co-applicants in research – guidance on roles and responsibilities (NIHR)
- A guide for co-researchers working on co-produced projects (University of York)
Payment guidance
- NIHR Public Contributor Reward and Recognition Policy
- NIHR Payment guidance for members of the public considering involvement in research
- Payment for public involvement in health and care research: a guide for members of the public on employment status and tax
Virtual involvement
The School has produced “how to use” guides for software which might be used to enable virtual involvement. The guides will explain, making use of screenshots, how to join in meetings and participate with their most common features.
- How to use Zoom (for computers)
- How to use Zoom (for mobile devices – Android)
- How to use Microsoft Teams (for computers)
- How to use Microsoft Teams (for mobile devices – Android)
You may also wish to visit NIHR Learning for Involvement for further resources and guides.
Public Collaborator Training & Development Booklet
The Public Collaborator Training Booklet, collaboratively developed Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Public Collaborator Group and SPCR Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement lead, brings together a range of training and support opportunities designed to build confidence, knowledge, and skills for patient and public involvement (PPI). The booklet is updated regularly as new opportunities are added.
The booklet is organised into three training areas:
- Research Methods
- Interpersonal Skills (coming soon)
- Public Collaborator Roles (coming soon)
Each area includes three levels of learning:
- Explore – Introductory materials for those who are new to public involvement
- Grow – Training to deepen skills and support more active involvement
- Support – Peer learning and reflective opportunities for experienced collaborators
Resources include recorded webinars, guides, booklets, and other learning materials. Live training sessions will also be shared on this webpage throughout the year and then added to the booklet going forward.
In addition to the Public Collaborator Training & Development Booklet each of the School’s members has a local PPI lead who will also be able to support you and make you aware of any local training opportunities. However, there are also several online training modules which can help you strengthen your skills and knowledge related to public involvement.
