Lay summary
- Provide a brief (not more than 1 page) lay summary about the project no less than 7 days before the meeting. This will be sent to the people who are planning to attend the meeting to give them an idea of what will be discussed. This can be the same lay summary you are using for your funding application (if applicable).
Presentation
- You don’t have to present slides, but if you are going to, make sure they’re created for the group, and not slides you have used for a different audience (e.g. medical professionals). Make them clear and not too dense with detail.
- PPI Group members are from a variety of backgrounds and are unlikely to have medical expertise in your field. It is therefore important that you present your research with that in mind. Avoid over complex technical diagrams and explain medical jargon or acronyms, if you have to use them. Avoid using large amounts of data and use visuals to explain the data instead (charts/graphs/images).
- Ensure the presentation is interesting and the message is clear:
- What is the purpose of the research?
- What are the benefits to patients, hospital, the NHS?
- Who will conduct the research and where?
- How will it be conducted – what will the research participants be required to do and how does this differ from their standard care (if applicable)?
- How many patients do you seek to involve? How will you identify them?
- Are there any risks/discomforts/potential side effects or benefits to patients?
- Over what period will the research take place?
- What funding are you applying for?
- How are other professionals, disciplines or organisations involved?
- What are your next steps?
- Think about what you want to get out of the meeting – are there certain questions or concerns you have about the project, if so add them to your presentation.
Virtual meetings
- If it’s a virtual meeting, plan where you’re going to join the meeting from. Online meetings and presentations are rarely without glitches. To minimise difficulties, choose a quiet room/office free from disturbance. Ideally wear headphones and test them before the meeting. The people on the meeting need to be sure that what they are saying is kept confidential, not heard by people around you.