What is public involvement in research? 

Research provides valuable information that helps improve the care people receive after a road traffic collision (RTC). Professionals like police officers, firefighters, and paramedics use guidelines based on the latest research to respond effectively. In this way, research plays a vital role in shaping post-collision care.

Members of the public can also play an important role in this process. Rather than being participants in a study, they can be actively involved in shaping the research itself—helping to decide what questions are asked, how the work is carried out, and how results are shared and used. It’s about being part of the team and making sure the research reflects what matters to real people.

PPI@IMPACT 

PPI@IMPACT is our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group. The group is made up of volunteers from different backgrounds, who have personal experience of RCTs and road injury. They share an interest in helping to shape research which will improve the outcomes of people involved in collisions. 

The group meets online every 2 to 3 months, but members can also get involved in other ways between meetings. This could involve helping to identify which research questions are most important to people affected by RTCs, sharing everyday perspectives to improve research ideas, or reviewing plain English summaries and other materials to ensure they’re easy to comprehend.

Contributing to our public involvement group

If you are interested in joining or finding out more about PPI@IMPACT please e-mail ppi@post-collision.com.