Context: Public and patient involvement (PPI) in research refers to a wide range of ways of engaging members of the public with the design, conduct and dissemination of research. Effective PPI can enhance research and scholarship by broadening, exchanging, and testing knowledge and expertise. It can also enhance the quality and impact of research, acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between the public funding of research and scholarship and the societal benefits arising from it in terms of public culture, democratic citizenship and economic prosperity. Over the last decade, many universities across the world have explored how best to encourage PPI in research by fostering changes in institutional culture and practice.
Objective: To understand the operationalisation of existing policies, procedures and practices that support PPI embedded within University of Limerick (UL) and evaluate change over time.
Study design: Mixed method study – quantitative analysis to evaluate change in PPI readiness and in-depth qualitative analysis to understand barriers and facilitators of implementing change.
Setting: University of Limerick, Ireland
Population studied: Seven faculties/schools/units within UL.
Intervention/instrument: EDGE tool (public engagement.ac.uk). Iterative application of the EDGE evaluation to monitor longitudinally the trajectory of PPI readiness on a 4-point scale (Embryonic, Developing, Gripping, Embedded) across nine sub-dimensions.

Outcome measures: Baseline EDGE evaluation conducted in September 2019, reported each unit’s 1) current state, and 2) future target for PPI readiness. Mean self-assessed baseline state or readiness for PPI at UL is at ‘developing’, with some units having policies and procedures at ‘embryonic’ while some at ‘embedded’. The units indicated mean future target for PPI readiness would be ‘gripping’. Follow-up measurement in September 2020 will include in-depth qualitative interviews with each unit to understand the barriers and facilitators during this process of change in policy and practice.
Impact: Increase in awareness and readiness for public and patient involvement in health research within all academic and administrative policy across the University. Iterative application of the EDGE tool acts as an intervention, keeping PPI planning on each unit’s agenda. We provide ongoing support for this change through leadership, training and ongoing evaluation.