A community-based approach to public involvement in research

Our practice case study focuses on involving members of the public in research, including those with little interest in the topic being researched. We begin by describing standard guidance on public involvement, noting that it often takes place when people move out of the places and relationships in which they spend most of their time. Public involvement guidance often talks about establishing ‘a formal patient or public panel’ and using ‘patient support groups’. Our case study describes a different model: public involvement that happens in the settings and groups where people meet in their everyday lives. We call this ‘community-based public involvement’. The main part of our paper describes this approach and reasons why the research team chose it. We also discuss how they went about it. Those involved then give their feedback: the members of the communities, the public involvement lead and the wider research team. We conclude by encouraging wider use of a community-based model of public involvement.