Background: Public and patient involvement (PPI) is an essential part of stroke research to ensure that it reflects the priorities and needs of people post-stroke. Several factors have been found to affect PPI, including location of the research in relation to the participants and time requirements for participation. There have been no studies examining the perspectives of PPI stakeholders on the involvement of people post-stroke and the public in stroke rehabilitation research to date. To this end, the aim of this project is to explore the perspectives of the members of a Stroke Rehabilitation Research PPI panel in UL, following one year of PPI panel participation.
Methods: The current team of researchers at the Ageing Research Centre, UL, has already developed a Stroke Rehabilitation Research PPI panel, including people post-stroke, multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and carers. The PPI panel members are actively involved as co-researchers in the conceptualisation, delivery, analysis and dissemination of stroke rehabilitation research. WP1.1 of this summer scholarship involves a qualitative descriptive study, using a semi-structured focus group to collect data. The focus group will be co-facilitated by the lead applicant (ND) and supervisor and will follow an interview guide of questions pertaining to members’ perspectives on participating in the PPI panel. WP1.2 will involve the transcription, analysis and interpretation of data. Braun and Clarke’s six-step reflexive thematic analysis will be used and themes and subthemes will be identified. WP1.3 will involve drafting the academic paper for publication and organising a free public event at UL, disseminating among all key stakeholders. ND will receive key training opportunities in research skills and techniques and transferable research competencies throughout.
Conclusions: The findings will provide insight into the barriers and enablers of participation in PPI in stroke rehabilitation research and ultimately the conduct of higher-quality stroke rehabilitation research and patient outcomes.