Summer Studentship Reflection

I am extremely thankful to PPI Ignite@UCC for inviting me to explore the world of research in such a warm environment. My enthusiasm for Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) came naturally to me, and the motivation gained from working with contributors made the entire process both enjoyable and rewarding.

My project concentrated on the methods used to capture the immediate and long-term impacts of PPI. Developing such a tool is essential for ensuring the sustainability of projects and for strengthening the wider body of PPI evidence. The need for this work was identified at a PPI meeting held by the Clinical Pharmacy and the Department of General Practice PPI Partnership. From the outset, this process was driven by collaboration between contributors and researchers.

Initially, I focused on acquiring a theoretical understanding of scoping review methodology. This allowed me to progress to database searching and data extraction, which then informed the development of a tool intended for use by the people within the partnership. This project provided me with the opportunity to experiment with various approaches to project management. Managing large volumes of data for the first time pushed me to refine my methods and adopt a more systematic working style. Gaining this experience before beginning my final-year research project has given me a valuable head start. I am confident that these skills will support not only my university assignments but also future research work, and continuous professional development once I begin my clinical work.

A particularly valuable aspect of the experience was co-facilitating meetings. Although it was initially outside my comfort zone, I gradually grew more confident in managing time and guiding discussions in a way that ensured everyone felt comfortable. I’d like to thank the PPI contributors I worked with for that experience! Every meeting was truly invigorating and helped me broaden my perspective.

With everyone in the PPI space being so eager to share their learnings, it is so easy to pick up new skills. I was introduced to the most important concepts through the Digital Badge in PPI. I joined the monthly NUIG Facilitation Shared Learning Group, where I learnt from researchers and contributors from various nations. Likewise, the PPI Summer School exposed me to a wealth of information. There, I was able to select workshops I was interested in and met so many experienced and kind people. With such a wide range of activities being available, managing your time becomes essential, as there is so much to learn over the six weeks. I would advise future Ignite Students advise to check the PPI Ignite events page before starting your studentship.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who made my experience so rewarding. To the PPI contributors I worked with, thank you for opening my horizons and being so excited about this project. I am also grateful to Seán Meskell for his collegiality and generously sharing his insights from his own work on evaluation methods used in PPI groups. Finally, I would like to thank my supervisors for their patience, guidance, and invaluable feedback. I felt truly privileged to have such thoughtful one-on-one conversations with them. Thank you!

These few weeks focused on research significantly enriched my university experience. I look forward to progressing into the fourth year of my pharmacy degree, as I now feel equipped with the necessary skills to approach my final year project with confidence and purpose.