Patient & Public Involvement & Engagement

HSRU is committed to making our research both relevant and accessible. The focus of our work is to find better ways of delivering healthcare. Patients and the public are at the centre of what we do, and there are lots of opportunities for patients and the public to be involved with, and to find out about, our research.

Public Engagement

We have a fun and lively public engagement group who run events throughout the year. As a department, we actively seek and create opportunities to engage with the public in different ways.

HSRU researchers win award for public engagement

We're proud that members of HSRU public engagement group won prizes in 2021 for their public engagement.

Public Involvement

We involve stakeholders, including patient and the public, in our projects from the earliest stage possible. This helps us to make sure we are asking and answering research questions.

Award winning public engagement

We’re proud that members of HSRU public engagement group have won or were nominated for the following awards and prizes for their public engagement!

2022

HSRU staff celebrate Excellence Awards 2022 nominations

2021

Katie Banister and Samantha Wileman were joint winners in the Public Engagement with Research Awards

2020

HSRU's Clare Robertson wins a Principal's Prize for Research and Engagement

2019
3 HSRU staff members winners of the Principal's Prizes for Research and Engagement 2019

2018
HSRU researchers win Principal's Prizes for Public Engagement with Research 2018

2017
Public Engagement Group wins Marie Curie Award
HSRU staff member scores a public engagement with research prize hat trick

2016
HSRU staff member recognised for contribution to public engagement with research for 2nd year running

2015
Early Career Award for Outstanding Achievement awarded to HSRU's Dr Heather Morgan

Events for the public

Our public engagement group is a fun, dynamic team of staff from many different backgrounds. We think it is important to make health services research accessible and run events out and about throughout the year for the public. Many of our events are run in collaboration with the University's Public Engagement with Research Unit.

You can keep up to date by following us on twitter @hsru_aberdeen

Recent events highlights...

Hunting for Evidence with the Girl Guides

It can be hard for young people to assess the claims they see every day, on the news, radio, social media. Are the claims true? What is the evidence? Is the evidence reliable?

Click on recent activities below to see what else we have been up to recently!

If you like the sound of anything we have done before, or have an idea for an event, please get in touch with us by email: hsru-ppie@abdn.ac.uk

Public involvement in our research

What is patient and public involvement?

Patient and public involvement (PPI) is defined by INVOLVE as research that is conducted "with" or "by" members of the public, as opposed to "to," "about," or "for" them. At HSRU, we aim at involving the public and patients in every step of the research process.

Patient and public involvement in research is not only an ethical commitment for HSRU but it is also a key part of how we shape our research, communicate our research findings, and improve the health and social care in our communities.

How can I be involved?

Are you interested in being involved with our work?

People can get involved in a variety of ways, including determining relevant research questions, advising on study design, being part of a team applying for research funding, ensuring patient information materials are clear and accessible, being a member of a committee or group guiding a piece of research, directing the communication of results, designing public engagement activities, influencing how research findings are put into practise, and assessing the impact of research.

We are always looking for patients and members of the public to advise us and join our research teams - to put the voice of patients and the public at the heart of our research. Based at the Health Services Research Unit in Aberdeen University, Foresterhill Campus, we carry out a wide range of healthcare research and clinical trials. Our research projects include clinical trials, as well as health care assessment and studies to improve experiences of care. Here you can find a list of all the current studies in the unit. Find out more also by following us on twitter @hsru_aberdeen.

What skills do you need?

Interest and enthusiasm, a bit of spare time, willingness to speak up.

You need to live in the Grampian area.

If you would like to volunteer, please download our sign-up sheet by clicking here and email it to hsru-ppie@abdn.ac.uk.

Public engagement activities

We run many events during the year. Click on any of the links below to find out more about our recent events and activities.

2023

We celebrated #BSW2023 by showing the connections we share with colleagues, patients, and the public

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

If you like the sound of anything we have done before or have an idea for an event please get in touch with us by emailing hsru-ppie@abdn.ac.uk.