Working together for involvement in research and development activity : our journey so far
Members of the RCOT Patient and Public Involvement Consultation Group describe the work they have been doing to co-develop the underpinning policies and processes needed to support meaningful involvement
The RCOT Research and Development Strategy 2019-24 states the organisation ’ s intention to work with people with lived experience of accessing occupational therapy services and the public in its research activities .
We recognise that people with lived experience of accessing occupational therapy , their families , and carers are best placed to advise on the services and support that will make a difference to their lives .
We are committed to working with people and their communities , and to valuing their experience and contribution to help us shape our research and development activities and more broadly across the Royal College .
At RCOT we use the term ‘ public contributors ’ when referring to people with lived experience of accessing occupational therapy , their families , and carers that we work with . Over the past year we have been working together to co-develop the underpinning policies and processes that we need to support meaningful involvement .
This article reflects on the co-production experience , some of the dilemmas encountered and lessons learned in response to those dilemmas .
Actively involving patients and the public in research is seen as a marker of good research practice because it leads to research that is more relevant to people ’ s needs , better designed , and with clearer outcomes , and a faster uptake of new evidence .
We want to take the same approach to our research and development activity at RCOT and we used the principles of a co-production model to guide our patient and public involvement ( PPI ).
The guiding principles for our PPI work are built around the six UK Standards for Public Involvement : offering inclusive opportunities ; working together ; using good communication ; offering support and learning opportunities ; involving public contributors in governance activities ; and making an impact through that public involvement .
Process An online Patient and Public Involvement consultation group was established in Autumn 2020 , to co-produce the policies and processes needed to support public involvement in RCOT research and development related activity .
Six public contributors with different lived experiences and diverse backgrounds worked with five members of RCOT staff and a member of the RCOT Board : Research and Development . Three ( two-hour ) Zoom meetings enabled group members to co-produce the policies and processes to support involvement .
44 OTnews December 2021