Public Patient Involvement for Global Impact: Integrating Principles and Training into an International Brain Health Program

Introduction The Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) aims to address global brain health challenges through equity-based fellowship training in brain health leadership across sciences, arts, humanities, advocacy, and policy. To achieve this, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is essential within GBHI’s training programs. Objectives To describe the development and implementation of PPI practice into GBHI to support up-scaling of PPI beyond the program through training of Fellows. Methods The PPI implementation project had three main components: (1) Establishing a PPI panel including individuals with dementia, care partners, and those at risk, to contribute to GBHI activities, integrating the activity into the existing GBHI structure using Kotter’s organizational change framework; (2) Developing and implementing a PPI education program for GBHI trainees; and (3) Creating a network of GBHI fellows worldwide, to implement PPI practice in their home countries. An evaluation framework captured outputs and impact, focusing on; implementation milestones, program-specific outputs, impact of PPI training on fellows’ knowledge, awareness, using the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation. Results A PPI panel was established with individuals from the US and Ireland, actively contributing to GBHI’s communications, advocacy, and research efforts. A PPI training program was successfully integrated into the GBHI curriculum. The training was well-received, with Fellows incorporating PPI into their project work. Additionally, a cohort of 16 GBHI Alumni (Fellows who had graduated from the GBHI fellowship programme) from various countries was formed to develop a global resource framework for PPI in dementia research. Conclusion The project successfully integrated PPI as a core and sustainable element of GBHI’s structure, generating interest and action across its global community.