Abstract
Background
Eczema is a common childhood condition, causing dry and itchy skin which can be difficult to manage. We have been undertaking eczema and food allergy research to address previously prioritised research questions. We obtained funding to trial novel approaches to reach diverse audiences to raise awareness of childhood eczema, research, and public involvement in research.
Methods
This paper reflects on two public engagement events held in collaboration with stakeholders in two settings of ethnic diversity in East Bristol, UK. We invited parents and children to attend the events by public display of posters. We created novel activities related to the research and involved artists to engage parents/carers and children about eczema and the research we are doing into its management.
Results
Attendance at the first event was lower than expected. Lessons learned were incorporated into the second event, to use a more structured approach and attract greater numbers of parents/carers from more diverse backgrounds. Creative approaches such as using artists at both events made the subject more accessible for diverse audiences, including children.
Conclusion
We successfully delivered two public engagement events. The success of the events has generated individual interest in PPI and enquiries about future events from neighbouring community groups. Reflections from the events have also been fed back to inform the research.
Eczema is a common childhood condition, causing dry and itchy skin which can be difficult to manage. We have been undertaking eczema and food allergy research to address previously prioritised research questions. We obtained funding to trial novel approaches to reach diverse audiences to raise awareness of childhood eczema, research, and public involvement in research.
Methods
This paper reflects on two public engagement events held in collaboration with stakeholders in two settings of ethnic diversity in East Bristol, UK. We invited parents and children to attend the events by public display of posters. We created novel activities related to the research and involved artists to engage parents/carers and children about eczema and the research we are doing into its management.
Results
Attendance at the first event was lower than expected. Lessons learned were incorporated into the second event, to use a more structured approach and attract greater numbers of parents/carers from more diverse backgrounds. Creative approaches such as using artists at both events made the subject more accessible for diverse audiences, including children.
Conclusion
We successfully delivered two public engagement events. The success of the events has generated individual interest in PPI and enquiries about future events from neighbouring community groups. Reflections from the events have also been fed back to inform the research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 6 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Research Involvement and Engagement |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 19 Jan 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This project was funded by the 2019 NIHR SPCR Patient and Public Engagement (PPIE) grant. The award was intended to encourage researchers within the SPCR Schools to trial novel approaches to PPI and/or public engagement or extend their work to reach new audiences.
Funding Information:
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (project reference 446). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of their host institutions, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. BEE is funded by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) HTA programme (Ref: 15/130/07). TEST was funded by NIHR School for Primary Care Research (project 383). Matthew Ridd was funded by a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship from the NIHR (PDF-2014-07-013). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care (DHCS).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
Keywords
- eczema
- PPI
- diversity
- public engagement
- creative approaches