Affiliation:
1. National Institute of Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC), North Thames London UK
2. Department of Primary Care and Population Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care University College London London UK
3. Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics King's College London London UK
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundDisability is often an essentialised and oversimplified concept. We propose refining this while incorporating the multidimensional nature of disability by increasing the use of existing survey questions and their corresponding data to enrich, broaden and inform understandings of disability.MethodsWe combined patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) with focus groups and concept mapping to collaboratively map disability survey questions into conceptual models of disability with six members of the public with lived experiences of disability.ResultsUsing reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three qualitative themes and eight subthemes through a series of four PPIE activities: (1) understanding concepts of disability based on individual experience, subthemes: 1.1—preference for the biopsychosocial model, 1.2—‘Reviewing’ instead of mapping survey questions and 1.3—comparing questions to real life; (2) consistency between understanding needs and implementing adjustments, subthemes: 2.1—connecting preparation and operation, 2.2—inclusivity and adjustments in activities and 2.3—feedback for improving activities and (3) real‐world applications—targeted awareness raising, subthemes: 3.1—who, where, what and how to share activity findings and results, 3.2—sharing with human resource and equality, diversity and inclusion professionals.ConclusionMembers of the public who collaborated in these activities felt empowered, engaged and supported throughout this study. This approach offers a model for other researchers to cede power to the public over the research aspects typically reserved for researchers.Patient or Public ContributionWe involved members of the public with lived experience throughout this study—co‐design, co‐facilitation, collaboratively mapping the disability or disability‐related survey questions into conceptual models of disability, evaluation of the activities, co‐analysis and co‐authorship.