BRC Public Partnership Advisory Group Member
Joan is a lay person with a background in banking and accounts.
To find out more about Joan and her thoughts about the involvement and engagement of patients and the public in research, we asked her some questions:
How long have you been involved in research?
I have been involved with various aspects of research for many years. From the outset it has been a positive experience. Since becoming involved in research as a member of a Patient and Public Research Panels I have had the opportunity to consider research proposals, give my opinion on the relevance of a proposal and to be involved in the design and methodology of research projects. Patients and members of the public share their views, ideas and experiences; in doing so they are able to contribute to ongoing and future research in partnership with medical and research teams.
It is important to stress that involvement is not exclusive. Anyone, no matter what your experiences or circumstances are, can contribute by asking questions, assisting in the development of patient information documentation and publicising study findings.
Why do you think it is important that patients and the public are involved in the research process?
Key to the success of any collaboration is the need for mutual respect and the acceptance of differing opinions; fellow panel members have openly expressed their views with no apparent hesitation. It is clear to me that our opinions have been listened to and that we are a valuable resource to the research community.
One positive outcome of the pandemic has been the opportunity for people to meet virtually. It is not always convenient or possible for people to travel around the country, however, meetings held online offer the opportunity to connect with others. Through my involvement, I have been able to learn from other people’s experiences, which in turn has widened my own views and helped me to better understand the priorities of others.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about getting involved in research?
Never underestimate the value of your opinion: my experience has been positive throughout, I have learned so much from researchers, academics, nurse specialists, consultants and not least from fellow members.