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"How would you handle this?" The impact of embedding early patient and public involvement in a biomechanical computational engineering doctoral research project

  • 0Bioengineering Science Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. T.A.Munyebvu@soton.ac.uk.
Research Involvement and Engagement +

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March 19, 2025

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March 19, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in biomechanical engineering research, particularly for conditions like hand osteoarthritis, enhances project relevance and outcomes. Early engagement with the public leads to more impactful and patient-centered engineering solutions.

Area Of Science

  • Biomechanical Engineering
  • Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
  • Quantitative Research Methodologies

Background

  • Engineering research, often technology-driven, can benefit from integrating patient and public involvement (PPI) to improve research quality, relevance, and accessibility.
  • Quantitative methodologies in engineering, especially biomechanics, often overlook end-user perspectives, impacting the applicability and user-centeredness of research outcomes.
  • This paper details the initial steps and learnings from embedding PPI into a biomechanical engineering doctoral project.

Discussion

  • Early-stage PPI consultations with individuals living with hand osteoarthritis (OA) provided critical insights into lived experiences and treatment considerations.
  • PPI shifted the project's focus from solely computational modeling to addressing patient-identified priorities: variability, joint instability, and awareness.
  • Establishing long-term partnerships with public contributors, despite a small number, fostered meaningful collaboration and research direction.

Key Insights

  • PPI can inspire novel ideas and guide critical thinking in quantitative research, uncovering solutions not apparent through traditional methods.
  • Integrating PPI early in biomechanical engineering projects leads to more patient-centered and relevant research outcomes.
  • The project successfully demonstrated that PPI can enhance technical workflows and uncover unique solutions through collaboration.

Outlook

  • Recommendations for integrating PPI in quantitative research include early engagement, training, flexible partnerships, and consistent feedback.
  • The study advocates for the inclusion of PPI in quantitative-heavy fields like biomechanical engineering, where end-users are central.
  • Future research should explore diverse PPI strategies to maximize impact in engineering and other quantitative disciplines.

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