Hacking health research: Supporting rapid patient and public involvement (PPI) through Patient Hack Days

2014 Conference

Abstract:

Theme
Health research funders increasingly emphasise the need to involve patients in prioritising research questions and designing studies. However, opportunities for such collaboration can be limited. ‘NHS Hack Days’ are one-off events bringing together technological experts with clinicians to generate novel solutions to healthcare problems. We received an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Transformative Research grant to explore whether this innovative approach could be translated to patient and public involvement (PPI) in the form of a ‘Patient Hack Day’, bringing together experts-by-experience with researchers to design new research projects, and support rapid PPI collaborations. Six PPI members from groups across Greater Manchester are pitching research ideas to a mixed audience of 60 PPI groups and researchers. Teams will work together during the day to coproduce study proposals.

Topics to be covered

• Overview of the day including ideas generated by the teams for:
  a. novel research
  b. future directions for PPI
• Description of activities co-designed with PPI collaborators to foster collaboration
• Comparison of the Hack Day method to other PPI formats to determine its potential to foster innovation and relative costs and advantages over traditional approaches
• Using the Generic Learning Outcomes Framework to evaluate the method

Issues for discussion

• Do we need innovative approaches to involving the public?
• Can rapid PPI be meaningful PPI?
• What are the techniques for evaluating novel events?
• Where in the research process (prioritisation, development, and dissemination) could Hack days be most valuable?
• Is this format appropriate for PPI naïve audiences?