Delia is the Public Involvement and Engagement Lead for the Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research.

As part of that role, she facilitates the Pressure Ulcer Research Service User Network (PURSUN). Delia is recognised nationally as a public involvement and engagement expert and has helped to shape best practice in the field. For example, contributing to national guidance on involvement in clinical trials and authoring a book chapter on involvement in qualitative research.

She has a particular interest in participatory and creative approaches to research, which she explored during a prestigious Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowship

Presentation at the WReN Scientific Meeting, Glasgow, May 2022

Involving service users and carers in priority setting

Objectives

After attending this session, persons will be able to:

• Provide people with an understanding of the underlying principles of patient and public involvement
• Provide practical examples regarding how to involve patients and the public in research development
• Explore the pros and cons of different approaches

Abstract 

It’s considered good practice to involve service users and carers in the prioritisation and development of research questions. There are different ways to approach collaborative research prioritisation, ranging to large scale national projects (e.g. the James Lind Pressure Ulcer Partnership) to individual researchers / teams working with local service users. This presentation will explore the pros and cons of different approaches and share examples from work with the Pressure Ulcer Research Service User Network (PURSUN).

PURSUN is made up of people with experience of pressure ulcers or pressure ulcer risk (service users, carers and family members). Network members draw on their experiences to inform research and practice. The pressure ulcer team at Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research have worked extensively with PURSUN over a number of years and projects. This relationship has allowed us to develop research ideas in an ongoing, iterative manner. For example, data interpretation workshops with PURSUN illuminated gaps in current research and informed new projects.