Patient and public involvement, engagement and inclusion
Patient and Public involvement and engagement is an integral part of developing an effective and acceptable digital therapy. It should be integrated throughout development in an iterative process rather than happening just at the beginning and at the end of the design and implementation stages.
What do we mean by PPIE?
The main goal of patient, public involvement and engagement (PPIE) is to create research and/ or services that are for the people rather than about the people. It increases the likelihood that the outcome of a research project or intervention is acceptable to the patient group and public in general. As well as patients, PPIE in digital therapy development can involve stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals, NHS trusts, charities and carers.
Where possible PPIE where possible should be included throughout the life cycle of the digital therapy development from research priority setting at the funder level, to grant application stage, methods development, to app development, analysis and dissemination.
PPIE can include a number of people and possible roles are:
- Co-applicant
- Collaborator
- Chair or co-chair of the PPIE Group
- Steering Group members
- Patient Advisor Group members
These roles are not mutually exclusive and this list is not exhaustive.
