The impact of patient and public involvement (PPI) on NHS healthcare services: A systematic review of literature

2010 Conference

Abstract:

Background:

There has been little research conducted on evaluating the impact of patient and public involvement (PPI) on healthcare services and the concept of ‘impact’ as it relates to involvement is unclear. It is a critical time to consolidate our understanding of PPI, identify key challenges and make recommendations to enable the area to move forward in developing a coherent evidence base.

Aims:

To review the literature on the impact PPI has had on healthcare services. To examine how PPI is being defined, conceptualised and theorised, how impact has been captured or measured, and the level on which the changes were taking place. To examine the economic cost of PPI.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted for the period 1997-2009. Seventeen databases and websites were searched, for example Medline and the King’s Fund. Following data extraction, a qualitative synthesis was performed from which key themes were identified.

Results:

The search retrieved 28 studies which satisfied the inclusion criteria. A common understanding of PPI appears to exist but conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of the review studies were scarce. The way the impact of PPI is being captured or measured is largely descriptive, for example the provision of additional services and the re-organisation of existing ones. There were some indications of the cost involved but no economic analyses.

Discussion:

The use of clear definitions is not common and findings are not placed on a comprehensible theoretical basis. Despite claims of the impact PPI is having, and costing, there is a weak evidence base to support these. PPI is an area where authors need to include more supporting evidence of the impact they claim PPI makes, and there is a need for clearer reporting, the key to developing a stronger evidence base for the future.

Authors

Mockford ~ Carole

Research Fellow, NHS National Centre for Involvement. Carole Mockford is a research fellow at the University of Warwick. Previously at the University of Oxford, she was a researcher on various studies including parenting programmes in general practice, and an intensive health visitor intervention. She has recently completed a DPhil on carers of people with motor neurone disease.

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