Involving the Public in Research

The Centre's research aims to improve the health of people who have long-term painful conditions and does so by involving members of the public. They help with all aspects of the research and by working closely with the researchers the results are more likely to stay relevant to patients. The views and personal experience of the public are especially valued.

The Centre has therefore set up two lay-people groups, both of them made up of people with experience of, or carers of close relatives with, painful long-term conditions, often costing them their job.

The first one called the Research Users' Group (RUG) was set up in 2006. It has 9 members and meets every 3 months as a Forum. The other group was set up in 2009 and is called a Virtual Panel, currently made up of 26 members of the public who meet once a year.

The activities of both groups include:

  • Giving advice on research design

  • Reading and giving feedback on research materials (e.g. questionnaires, letters to patients, consents forms)

  • Commenting on research proposals

  • Membership of project steering committees

  • Co-applicants on grant submissions

Members of the RUG also represent the Centre at meetings with outside organisations such as Arthritis Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), Arthritis Research UK and National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Members of the Research Users' Group also played an important role in the Centre's successful application to become the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre.

The Centre has a User Support Worker who helps to co-ordinate the patient and public involvement work. If you would like to find out more or become involved please contact Carol Rhodes (Tuesday to Thursday) on 01782 734834 or email c.a.rhodes@cphc.keele.ac.uk.