BU Research Blog

Enhancing Research Quality Through Public Involvement: Insights from a PhD Project with People Affected by Advanced Liver Disease

Public involvement in research is no longer an optional add-on but an essential component of conducting high-quality research. Engaging with people affected by the research can provide invaluable insights and enhance the relevance and impact of the findings. Researchers are encouraged to collaborate closely with those who have lived experience of the issues being studied.

Cathy Beresford has exemplified this approach by co-authoring a peer-reviewed paper with members of her public involvement group. Published in Health Expectations, the paper is titled “Embedding Public Involvement in a PhD Research Project With People Affected by Advanced Liver Disease.” It details her strategy of integrating public involvement (PI) into her research, ensuring that the voices of those affected by liver disease are central to the project’s development and implementation.

By sharing insights from her project, Cathy aims to inspire and guide fellow postgraduate researchers in embedding PI strategies effectively into their own work. Her experience demonstrates that meaningful public involvement can lead to richer, more impactful research outcomes that are deeply informed by the experiences and needs of those directly affected.

For those interested in exploring this approach further, the paper is available here: Embedding Public Involvement in a PhD Research Project With People Affected by Advanced Liver Disease (wiley.com)