{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]],"date-time":"2026-06-23T12:53:08Z","timestamp":1782219188187,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]],"date-time":"2026-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782172800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]],"date-time":"2026-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782172800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010414","name":"Health Research Board","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010414","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Res Involv Engagem"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The aim of this study was to explore staff and students\u2019 understanding and experiences of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) at University College Cork (UCC), taking into account the university\u2019s recent establishment of a dedicated research unit to advance PPI capacity. The study sought to identify the barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for strengthening and embedding high-quality PPI within the university\u2019s research practices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional survey was distributed via email and social media to all UCC staff and students. The 18-item survey, informed by prior instruments and refined with PPI and stakeholder input, captured quantitative and qualitative data relating to PPI understanding, awareness, satisfaction, motivation, barriers, and enablers. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Findings<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A total of 289 respondents took part in the survey, of whom 69.1% (186\/269) were staff members and 30.9% (83\/269) were students. Analyses were based on the number of respondents who answered each item. Overall, 64.4% (168\/261) rated their PPI knowledge as reasonable, good, or very good, supported by their ability to correctly identify authentic examples of PPI. Among those familiar with PPI, just over half (51.6%, 98\/190) had implemented it in their research. The top reported barriers were funding (50%, 81\/162), time constraints (48.8%, 79\/162), and concerns about tokenistic engagement (42.6%, 69\/162). Content analysis of free-text responses highlighted the need for both structural and cultural changes to enable meaningful PPI, including institutional recognition and integration, improved resourcing and funding, fair treatment and remuneration, and cultural and attitude change. Respondents also identified three priority areas for future training: 1. PPI recruitment and facilitation, 2. Managing and communicating with contributors, and 3. Securing funding for PPI activities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study demonstrates that while UCC staff and students report a generally strong understanding of PPI, this level of understanding and implementation varies by department. Practical implementation remains limited and constrained by barriers such as time, funding, and tokenism. Addressing these challenges requires institutional commitment, resources, and cultural change. Prioritising targeted training alongside structural supports offers clear opportunities to strengthen capacity and embed meaningful PPI within the university research environment.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s40900-026-00896-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]],"date-time":"2026-06-23T12:21:10Z","timestamp":1782217270000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring staff and students\u2019 understanding and experience of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in an Irish University"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-2419-7796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ben","family":"Kavanagh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8344-9561","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stacey","family":"Grealis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1696-5862","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Damian","family":"Haslett","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9599-3540","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patricia M.","family":"Kearney","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Larry","family":"Masterson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephanie","family":"Skeffington","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2247-8369","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmy","family":"Racine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7919-1599","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carol","family":"Kelleher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"896_CR1","unstructured":"National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Jul 23]. Briefing notes for researchers - public involvement in NHS, health and social care research. Available from: https:\/\/www.nihr.ac.uk\/briefing-notes-researchers-public-involvement-nhs-health-and-social-care-research."},{"issue":"5","key":"896_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"637","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1369-7625.2012.00795.x","volume":"17","author":"J Brett","year":"2014","unstructured":"Brett J, Staniszewska S, Mockford C, Herron-Marx S, Hughes J, Tysall C, et al. Mapping the impact of patient and public involvement on health and social care research: a systematic review. Health Expect. 2014;17(5):637\u201350.","journal-title":"Health Expect"},{"issue":"4","key":"896_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"785","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.12888","volume":"22","author":"T Greenhalgh","year":"2019","unstructured":"Greenhalgh T, Hinton L, Finlay T, Macfarlane A, Fahy N, Clyde B, et al. Frameworks for supporting patient and public involvement in research: Systematic review and co-design pilot. Health Expect. 2019;22(4):785\u2013801. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/hex.12888 . PubMed PMID: 31012259.","journal-title":"Health Expect"},{"key":"896_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Lang I, King A, Jenkins G, Boddy K, Khan Z, Liabo K. How common is Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)? Cross-sectional analysis of frequency of PPI reporting in health research papers and associations with methods, funding sources and other factors. BMJ Open. 2022;12(5). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-063356. PubMed PMID: 35613748.","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-063356"},{"key":"896_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.12688\/hrbopenres.14178.1","volume":"8","author":"C Mizzoni","year":"2025","unstructured":"Mizzoni C, Lord S, Cahill A, Cody A. Researcher and Funder perspectives on research funders\u2019 support for Public and Patient Involvement in Research (PPI). HRB Open Res. 2025;8:97. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12688\/hrbopenres.14178.1.","journal-title":"HRB Open Res"},{"key":"896_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ocloo J, Matthews R. From tokenism to empowerment: progressing patient and public involvement in healthcare improvement. BMJ Qual Saf. 2016;bmjqs-2015-004839.","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjqs-2015-004839"},{"issue":"3","key":"896_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"340","DOI":"10.1177\/1542316619871231","volume":"14","author":"M Zapf","year":"2019","unstructured":"Zapf M, Refaeil N, de Leon BA. Comprehensive Capacity Development: Moving Beyond Training as the Default. J Peacebuilding Dev. 2019;14(3):340\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1542316619871231.","journal-title":"J Peacebuilding Dev"},{"key":"896_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Markaki A, Malhotra S, Billings R, Theus L. Training needs assessment: tool utilization and global impact. BMC Med Educ. 2021;21(1). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-021-02748-y.\u00a0 PubMed PMID: 34059018.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-021-02748-y"},{"key":"896_CR9","unstructured":"PPI Ignite Network. PPI Ignite Network [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Jul 24]. Available from: https:\/\/ppinetwork.ie\/about-us\/."},{"issue":"5","key":"896_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"659","DOI":"10.1080\/13645579.2021.1929714","volume":"25","author":"Z Kmetty","year":"2022","unstructured":"Kmetty Z, Stefkovics \u00c1. Assessing the effect of questionnaire design on unit and item-nonresponse: evidence from an online experiment. 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Participation in the study was voluntary, and written informed consent was obtained from all respondents prior to survey participation. Respondents were provided with information about the purpose of the study and what participation involved prior to participation. All data were collected anonymously.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"101"}}