Category: Public involvement

Voice of the Voiceless: How we co-produced materials to help reduce stigma for people receiving opioid substitution therapy in pharmacies

Posted on by capcbristol

 

 

By Dr Vicky Carlisle, Research Fellow, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol

Voice of the Voiceless is a collaboration between people who receive opioid substitution therapy (OST) for opioid dependence, University of Bristol academics (Dr Vicky Carlisle, Dr Adam Holland, Dr Jenny Scott), Bristol City Council (Ashley Ward), Bristol Drugs Project (Lydia Plant, Lianna Telfer), Developing Health & Independence (Nick Booth), and Harm Reduction Mothers2Mothers (Anna Millington). In 2024 we worked together with a graphic designer to co-produce a booklet that aims to: reduce stigma for people who receive opioid substitution treatment; empower them in their interactions in pharmacies; and foster mutual compassion and respect between pharmacy staff and people who receive OST.

Why stigma and why pharmacies?

OST (with methadone or buprenorphine) is prescribed for opioid dependence. Broadly, the aim is to provide individuals with stability  and relief from withdrawal symptoms, and to reduce reliance … Read more

Caring for children with cough: co-designing information that parents really need

Posted on by capcbristol

By Dr Christie Cabral, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol

When a child develops a cough, parents often find themselves in a whirlwind of worry and uncertainty. Is this normal? Should I call the doctor? Could it be something serious? These questions are common and understandable.

Infectious illnesses, like respiratory infections that cause coughs, are among the most frequent reasons for childhood visits to the GP. While the vast majority of coughs in children get better without the need for any medical treatment, a very small number could be serious.

The challenge lies in helping parents distinguish between what’s normal and what needs to be checked by a GP. This is what we set out to do when creating the Caring for children with coughs materials.

Why we needed better information

Parents said they found most of the existing NHS resources on what to … Read more

Experience: Attending an academic conference as a public contributor

Posted on by capcbristol

 

 

 

 

What’s it like attending an academic conference when you’re not an academic but are involved in research?

In this blog, Karen Sargent and Jane Sprackman, both Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors on The AFRI-c Study (which is investigating the use of air filters to prevent respiratory infections including COVID-19 in older people’s care homes), share their reflections on attending the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Annual Scientific Meeting on 8-9 July 2025 hosted by Cardiff University.

How and why did you come to attend the conference?

Karen: We were advised by the study team that there was funding for us to attend a conference. I was particularly motivated to go to the SAPC conference as AFRI-c was being presented, as well as another study, the CHiP Study (Care of Housebound Patients in Primary Care), which I have been involved with as a … Read more

The importance of patient and public involvement and engagement in research – a PhD researcher’s journey of discovery

Posted on by capcbristol

 

 

By Anna Pathmanathan, PhD student, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol

Hello, my name is Anna Pathmanathan and I am a Third year PhD researcher at the University of Bristol. I am part of the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) team and I’m investigating health differences between different ethnic groups, relating to antibiotic resistance and respiratory health concerns.

I am currently conducting big data analysis of healthcare records and interviewing health care practitioners and patients, as part of my work.

What did you know and how did you feel about patient and public involvement and engagement when you started your PhD?

Before starting my PhD, I had no experience of engaging or involving the public in research. I had very little research experience at all, so it was all new to me.

When I realised I needed to involve the public in my … Read more

Learning from each other: Insights from a public co-applicant collaboration in primary care research

Posted on by capcbristol

Dr Charlotte ArcherIn this blog, Louise Ting and Charlotte Archer share their reflections on working together as a public co-applicant and principal investigator on a research study looking at the benefits and challenges of remote consulting for anxiety and depression in primary care. A public co-applicant is an individual with lived experience of the condition being researched who is involved in the development of a research funding application. If the research is funded, they also have some responsibility as part of the team for the management and/or delivery of the study.

The study that Louise and Charlotte delivered together involved interviewing 21 patients and 20 practitioners (GPs, nurses, pharmacists) from GP practices in Bristol and the surrounding area. The aim was to understand when alternative platforms for consultations, such as telephone calls, are acceptable, effective and preferable to in-person appointments for people seeking support with anxiety and depression. You can read about … Read more

The importance of an inclusive study design – the HepCAPP Study

Posted on by capcbristol

Dr Kirsty Roberts

 

 

by Dr Kirsty Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Trials Methodology and Deputy Research Director EDI, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol

Background

HepCAPP (Hepatitis C Case-finding in Primary Care Pilot) was a pilot oral swab Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening study which was funded by NHS England in 2019 and completed in 2023. The study invited over 98,000 people aged 40-64 registered at selected GP practices to take part. 12,216 (12.4%) consented and returned their sample to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for testing.

The study participants found the approach to testing acceptable and the uptake was better than expected. However, the study also confirmed that those identified could have been found through lower-cost targeted screening. Therefore, we recommended that oral swab HCV screening shouldn’t be rolled out in the NHS.

Were there any groups of people or communities under-represented?

The study found … Read more

Co-production, equality, diversity & inclusion at the NIHR School for Primary Care Research Trainee Event 2024

Posted on by capcbristol

Kirsten Nothnagel

 

 

 

by Kerstin Nothnagel, Postgraduate researcher and PhD student, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol

This month, I had the privilege of attending the National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) Trainee event in Manchester, where I connected and collaborated with fellow SPCR researchers. The event was more than just an academic gathering—it was an inspiring opportunity to share insights and reflect on our work as a community.

A highlight of the event was the Co-Production, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (CEDI) session, led by Patrick Nyikavaranda. This session was particularly significant for a few reasons. The purpose was to dive deep into understanding how our diverse experiences and backgrounds shape our research, with the aim of fostering a more inclusive research environment. In today’s globalized world, belonging is a crucial element. As researchers, the … Read more