DECIPHer

DECIPHer: Centre for the Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement

DECIPHer brings together leading experts from a range of disciplines to tackle public health issues such as diet and nutrition; physical activity; and tobacco, alcohol and drugs, with a particular focus on developing and evaluating multi-level interventions that will have an impact on the health and wellbeing of children and young people. DECIPHer is led by Professor Simon Murphy, Cardiff University, and is funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales.

Public involvement in research

One of DECIPHer’s core values is that children, young people, and their carers and parents should be actively involved in the research process. Its research is undertaken with the public, rather than to or on them.

The key objectives are to:

• involve the public in the strategic development of DECIPHer;
• involve the public in the research process within individual projects;
• increase awareness and opportunities for public involvement in DECIPHer research;
• develop the capacity within DECIPHer to involve the public in its work.

Public involvement is undertaken in the Centre by employing a full time Senior Public Involvement Officer who supports and organises DECIPHer’s public involvement work which centres on three advisory groups:

• ALPHA, DECIPHer’s research advisory group of young people aged 14-25. Their input helps ensure DECIPHer research is relevant to young people and their needs.
• National Student Advisory Group – a network of secondary school students who will advise university researchers by discussing and debating their views on public health topics and the research the School Health Research Network and DECIPHer plan to carry out.
• Parent Advisory Group – The group is key in enabling DECIPHer to further develop parental involvement in research studies. In particular, the group plays an important role in shaping the design and conduct of studies led by SHRN and the development of the Healthy Social and Community Networks programme.

It also works with younger children, parents and carers and service users, and other members of the public. The full-time Senior Public Involvement Officer coordinates public involvement across the research centre and provides training and support for researchers and the public.

The strategic direction of DECIPHer’s public involvement work is overseen by a Public Involvement Steering Group of academics and practitioners with expertise in public involvement.

Training

Training sessions cover topics such as public health, the research cycle and ethics procedures, as well as developing knowledge of a range of quantitative and qualitative methods including focus groups, interviews, systematic reviews, questionnaires and randomised control trials.

Experience

The young people have been involved in a range of projects with researchers from Cardiff University, the University of Bristol, Swansea University and the University of East London. These projects have covered topics such as the take up of free school meals, methods for teaching young people Personal and Sexual Education (PSE), youth homelessness, young people’s wellbeing, and interventions to support self-esteem. Within these projects, young people have piloted materials, tested questionnaires and interview schedules, developed research ideas, and suggested themes for analysis of data.

Key Contact