Image
2024
Image
UL Events for National Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Festival 2024
The PPI Ignite team at the University of Limerick (UL) organised a series of three impactful events as part of the National PPI Festival 2024. These events, which mobilised over 110 participants, highlighted the importance of public and patient involvement in research and showcased the collaborative efforts between researchers and the community.
- PPI Bursaries @ UL – Shining a Light on Public and Patient Involvement in Research
The PPI Ignite Network at UL showcased its seed funding programme results. This programme is aimed at fostering innovative health research partnerships between researchers and community or patient organisations.
This event celebrated the vital contributions of PPI research partnerships, with researchers and PPI partners co-presenting their inspiring outcomes. Professor Alan Donnelly, Director, HRI, Professor Anne MacFarlane, Co-Director, Participatory Health Research Unit and Associate Professor Jon Salsberg, Co-Principal Investigator, PPI Ignite Network Programme @ UL, officially inaugurated the conference.
The event also marked the official launch of the Bursary Programme Call for 2024/2025 open to all UL and HRI researchers.
- PPI INCLUDES Report Launch
In collaboration with the national PPI Ignite Network, the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, and Doras, the Participatory Health Research (PHR) Unit at UL launched the PPI INCLUDES report.
This networking event showcased the international reach of the PPI Ignite Network through UL’s WHO Collaborating Centre for PHR with Refugees and Migrants. The event was chaired by Professor Anne MacFarlane. The report was presented by Anna Papyan (UL and Shannon Family Resource Centre) and Lora Ruth Wogu (Migrant Health Alliance Ireland) and officially launched by Professor Thilo Kroll (University College Dublin, EDI Lead, National PPI Ignite Network). Professor Helen Phelan and Dr. Fran Garry (UL) led the singing of the original song - Le Chéile.
Professor Anne MacFarlane celebrated “The launch of the PPI INCLUDES report marks a significant step towards inclusive health research in Irelan, celebrating the power of collaboration and diversity.”
Professor Helen Phelan, stated “Through the power of music and shared stories, today’s event highlights the global impact of the PPI INCLUDES group and our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.”
- PPI Workshop – Introduction to PPI
This workshop, co-facilitated by Jon Salsberg and Alison Johnson, provided an introduction to PPI, covering the principles and practice of participatory health research. Participants learned about the requirements for meaningful public or patient involvement in health research and the distinction between patients or members of the public as ‘co-researchers’ versus ‘research participants.’
The PPI Ignite team at UL extends its gratitude to all participants and collaborators for making these events a resounding success. These initiatives underscore the power of collaboration and the significant impact of public and patient involvement in Ireland’s research landscape.
Image
National PPI Festival 2024
PPI Ignite @UL is looking forward to being involved in the upcoming National PPI Festival 2024. Hosted annually by the PPI Ignite Network, the Festival is a fantastic opportunity for PPI Contributors, Higher Education Institutions, community organisations, and research groups to showcase and celebrate the growth and advances made in PPI across Ireland.
The National PPI Festival will run from the 1st – 31st of October 2024, including several events hosted and organised by the PPI Ignite Team here at UL. These events will focus on the vital additions of PPI Contributors and community groups, as well as highlighting important progress made by students, researchers, and academics.
See a full calendar of events taking place.
More information on events hosted by PPI Ignite @UL can be found below.
PPI Bursaries @ UL – Shining a Light on Public and Patient Involvement in Research
Join us at the PPI Bursaries @UL event, where we will be showcasing the wonderful research collaborations between PPI Contributors, community organisations, and researchers funded by the PPI Ignite Network at UL seed funding programme.
Date/Time: Wednesday October 9th, 10am – 2pm
Location: Appellate Court Room, 3rd Floor, Glucksman Library, UL
PPI INCLUDES Report Launch Event
This exciting event will launch the report detailing research on the development of a national inter-sectoral network to build capacity for refugees’ and migrants’ involvement in health research in Ireland. Chaired by Professor Anne MacFarlane, this event will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the research findings and network with a diverse cohort of PPI Contributors, participants, and researchers.
Date/Time: Thursday October 10th 2024, 12pm – 2pm
Location: UL City Campus, Sarsfield Street, Limerick V94 DW21
Learn more about the PPI INCLUDES Report Launch Event.
Introduction to Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) and Participatory Health Research (PHR)
We welcome your presence at the online Introduction to PPI and PHR Workshop, facilitated by PPI Contributor Allison Johnson, and PPI Ignite @UL Co-Principal Investigator Jon Salsberg. This workshop will be a wonderful opportunity to understand the principles and practice of PHR and the contributions and involvement of the public in vital research.
Date/Time: Monday October 14th 2024, 10am – 11:30am
Location: Online – MS Teams
Learn more information about the Introduction to PPI and PHR Workshop.
Image
9th Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Summer School
The PHR Unit organised its 9th Public and Patient Summer School. The event held on the 17th and 18th June welcomed over 115 delegates at a unique event in Ireland, focusing on empowering patients, carers and the public to actively engage in healthcare research as partners with health researchers.
The keynote speaker Simon Denegri OBE, Executive Director of the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK) shared his reflections on how he envisions the future of PPI. Dr Kim Ozano, Director of the SCL Agency (UK) gave the closing keynote on the theme of ‘Power and Participatory Research’.
There was a wide variety of engaging, interactive workshops and panel discussions. Founder of the Summer School, Professor Anne MacFarlane - HRI member and Co-Director of the PHR Unit at UL – said it was a way in “which to support researchers, community and patient organisations, students, PPI contributors, funders, health service providers and policy makers to come together for learning, discussion, and networking, and to foster meaningful partnerships. By amplifying and nurturing patient voices, we strive for strong patient-centred research in Ireland and beyond – this PPI Summer School has really energised us for the year ahead.”
Image
Launch of UL Participatory Health Research Unit
A celebratory atmosphere pervaded the foyer of the School of Medicine on 30th April as the Participatory Health Research (PHR) Unit was launched as a specialist research unit to improve the meaningful involvement of people and communities as partners in research about their health. The Unit is also host to the WHO Collaborating Center for PHR with Refugees and Migrants, as well as to the Public Patient Involvement (PPI) Ignite Network.
PHR Unit Co-Directors, Prof Anne MacFarlane and Prof Helen Phelan welcomed academic and community colleagues to the launch and shared their story of the journey to developing the specialist research unit.
Prof MacFarlane noted that involving people with lived experience of health conditions and communities with insight into health issues as partners in the co-design and the co-production of research is critically important to ensuring relevant and impactful research.
Prof Phelan explained the important need for and evidence underpinning creative and culturally attuned methods with diverse groups, including Participatory and Arts-Based Research (ABR) methods such as photovoice, music and singing.
Prof Noralee Kennedy, Vice President Research praised the PHR Unit’s “outstanding success in international peer-reviewed publications and in competitive research funding” and spoke about the innovative nature of this specialist Unit. According to Prof Kennedy: “It is wonderful to see these distinct research specialties (PHR and ABR) come together in this new research unit, bringing researchers together from right across the university to collaborate in meaningful research that is of the utmost importance to those whom the research concerns.”
Nigel Healey, Vice President Global and Community Engagement officially launched the Participatory Health Research Unit and commended the focus on community-based research with real societal impact. Prof Healey noted “This research unit, specialising in inclusive, engaging and creative ways to hear the lived experience of diverse people and communities in relation to their health, is embedding civic engagement into how we do research.”
Participants enjoyed a light networking lunch, background harp music and photographs organised by PHR Unit Manager, Lorna Kerin and PHR Unit Project Officer Denia Claudino.
Image
Research Week event: “Participatory research methods – techniques and resources taster workshop”.
The Participatory Health Research Unit (PHRU) recently joined forces with the Health Research Institute to organize a highly successful event during UL Research Week 2024. The two-hour training session took place at the School of Medicine on April 30th, attracting participants from diverse backgrounds and expertise across various departments, including LERO, School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Allied Health, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, and Department of Psychology. Notably, the workshop also welcomed delegates from external institutions, including Mary Immaculate College and the Shannon Family Resource Centre.
The primary goal of the workshop was to introduce participants to essential techniques and resources commonly used in participatory research. By actively engaging research participants, these methods aim to foster collaboration and empower the public involved in research. During the workshop, three distinct participatory techniques were showcased:
- Photovoice: A visual storytelling method that allows participants to express their experiences and perspectives through photographs.
- Ketso Toolkit: An innovative tool designed to facilitate group discussions, brainstorming, and idea generation.
- Participatory Facilitation Skills: Strategies for effectively guiding participatory processes and ensuring meaningful contributions from anyone involved.
Additionally, a presentation focused on the participatory research resources available at the Glucksman Library provided valuable insights for attendees.
The feedback received from participants was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the importance of this work and igniting a renewed commitment within the PHRU team to nurture and expand this field.
Image
Participatory Health Research Unit contribution to the inaugural WHO (World Health Organisation) Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health
Professor Anne MacFarlane, Co-Director of the Participatory Research Unit in the UL School of Medicine, was an invited speaker at the WHO Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health in Valetta, Malta in April 2024. The main objective of the Forum was to highlight the development of the Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the WHO European Region 2023–2030 and provide tools and resources for its implementation, supporting member states to make their commitment to universal healthcare a reality.
Professor MacFarlane facilitated a workshop about ‘Communication with Refugees and Migrants’ with her PhD student Ms Anne Cronin (co-supervised by Professor Nuha Ibrahim) alongside colleagues from the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the WHO in Geneva.
A session on migrant-friendly and responsive health services moderated by Professor MacFarlane included a conference stage conversation with Siobhan McArdle, Assistant Secretary General in the Department of Health. This dialogue highlighted the new ‘Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership’ between the Department of Health and the UL Participatory Health Research Unit launched in 2023. The goal of the partnership is to improve refugee and migrants’ involvement in Irish public health policy making.
Mr Sarbik Guha, a doctoral student at the Irish World Music Academy (co-supervised by Professor Helen Phelan and Professor Anne MacFarlane) facilitated a Music Café with Professor Charles Agyemang, Amsterdam Medical Centre that looked at the climate change, migration and health. The facilitated discussion informed lyrics of a song that Sarbik composed and which the group sang together on the final day, which proved a highlight for many attendees.
The event was held in collaboration with the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing of Malta, bringing together over 100 people from Member States and a wide range of participants to:
- share and exchange knowledge and best practices around health and migration;
- discuss and reflect on common challenges and opportunities;
- identify key partnerships for joint interventions across countries of origin, transit and destination;
- connect and forge new initiatives.
Image
Collaborative Dissemination Planning in PPI Research concludes the UL PPI Ignite Network Series 2023-2024
Academic researchers and community partners enjoyed the final workshop ‘Collaborative Dissemination Planning in PPI Research’ which concluded the UL PPI Ignite Public and Patient Involvement Workshop Series 2023-2024.
Co-delivered by Lorna Kerin (Manager Participatory Health Research Unit and PPI Ignite @UL Programme Manager) and Dr Jon Salsberg (Associate Professor of Primary Care Research and Academic Lead for PPI Ignite @UL), this workshop sought to stimulate reflection on ways research, informed by public, patient and community involvement, can reach diverse audiences for maximum meaningful impact.
This in-person event took place in the UL Glucksman Library where participants had the opportunity to hear about best practice, key literature references, use a bespoke PPI dissemination tool and share their aspirations for future research projects that would benefit from PPI collaborative planning.
A celebratory shared lunch followed the workshop, marking the culmination of a year-long series of six workshops to build PPI in research capacity in UL. The previous sessions covered diverse topics, including:
- Introduction to PPI and Participatory Health Research
- Finding research partners
- Ethics, governance, and partner agreements
- Collaborative research design
- Collaborative data analysis and interpretation
Throughout the year, our PHR Unit team and guest facilitators welcomed over 100 participants from various backgrounds, including UL senior and junior researchers, postgraduate students, community partners, and health policy decision-makers. The public evaluation feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants praised the facilitators’ insights and the dynamic flow of the sessions. Some quotes include:
- “The facilitators were very insightful, and the whole session flowed very well. The participants’ questions stimulated meaningful conversations.”
- “The information was well presented and provided at an excellent pace. The presenting partnership worked seamlessly, complementing each other.”
Looking ahead, the UL PPI Ignite Network team is preparing the next series of PPI Ignite Network workshops
November 2023
North American Primary Care Research Group – NAPCRG 51stAnnual Meeting
The Participatory Health Research (PHR) Unit team recently travelled to San Francisco, USA to disseminate PHR knowledge and best practice at the largest international conference on Primary Care Research, the 51st NAPCRG Annual Meeting. The conference was held from October 30 to November 3, 2023.
Jon Salsberg, Associate Professor of Primary Health Care Research at the School of Medicine (SoM), and Principal Investigator of the HRB/IRC PPI Ignite Network Grant, led the School of Medicine PHR team composed of Professor Anne MacFarlane, Anna Papyan, Dénia Claudino, Lorna Kerin, Dr Megan Gilfoyle, and Miriam McCarthy.
The team presented research about diverse aspects of PHR, links to the abstracts below.
“Knowledge dissemination workshop”,
“Participatory health research with refugees and other migrants - partnerships for health equity”.
“Do you still trust me? Exploring trust in research partnerships over time”.
Inaugural RMHP event at DoH
The inaugural Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership (RMHP) event at the Department of Health offered participants the opportunity to discuss research evidence about urgent issues for refugee and migrant health that can inform health policy.
Participants were encouraged through participatory roundtable discussions to consider how the Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership (RMHP) can support their future work to inform Ireland’s public health response to refugee and migrant health.
Image
Image: Leaders of the Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership (RMHP) at the inaugural event in the Department of Health including (L to R) Ahmed Hassan (Doras); Prof Ailish Hannigan (UL); Mr Jim Walsh (Department of Health); Prof Helen Phelan (UL); Ms Siobhan McArdle (Department of Health); Prof Anne MacFarlane (UL Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants)
Publication on data gaps in refugee and migrant health in highly prestigious journal
Despite rising global mobility, the state of migrant and refugee health data in European health systems is a concern according to a new study involving Professor Ailish Hannigan from University of Limerick’s WHO Collaborating Center for Refugee and Migrant Health.
The analysis by an international coalition of universities, UN organizations, government representatives, and European institutions reveals that coverage of migrant and refugee data remains inconsistent and of suboptimal quality.
The research has been published in the highly prestigious medical journal The Lancet Regional Health Europe in a paper called “Integration of migrant and refugee data in health information systems in Europe: advancing evidence, policy and practice”. The article can be accessed here.
October 2023
National PPI Festival 2023
PPI Ignite @UL, the University of Limerick’s Public Patient Involvement Office organised a strong calendar of events as part of the National PPI Festival 2023. This year’s festival events took place from 1st-31st October with the tagline “PPI: Where WE all matter”.
The festival offered a range of online and in-person opportunities to learn about partnering to improve the quality of health research. Many events around the country were open to researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, carers as well to the wider public interested in getting involved in health research.
On 2nd October, UL President Kerstin Mey launched the partnership between the Department of Health and the WHO Collaborating Centre led by Prof Anne MacFarlane, at the School of Medicine. Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, sent a message of support for this important collaboration for the DoH. A multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion was prepared to explore how participatory research can facilitate meaningful partnerships on refugee and migrant health policy.
On 10th October, PPI Ignite @UL offered an in-person Facilitation Skills Workshop, in UL aimed at upskilling researchers and community partners in participatory facilitation tools and techniques. At the end of the workshop, 20 participants were very fulfilled with the level of engagement, the quality and practicality of the tools, and the expertise of the facilitators. When asked if you would recommend this course to others, one participant replied “Absolutely, often we hear Why to do PPI but not so often we are oriented on How to PPI”.
42 participants, including musicians, UL researchers, and migrants from different geographies participated in the Irish World Music Café 26th October that was held on UL City Campus.
According to Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the IWADM and founder of the Irish World Music Café: “The cafe gathering was a wonderfully creative and engaging opportunity to meaningfully involve communities in research. We were very pleased to have a full house today at the café to hear about engaged research”.
Academic researchers and community partners who wish to develop a health research partnership attended a PPI workshop on the 24th of October focused on “Collaborative Research Design”. This online workshop was part of the UL PPI Workshop Series and contributed to the UL Researcher Development Programme digital badge. The workshop was co-facilitated by Professor Anne MacFarlane, Chair of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, UL, and Alphonse Basogomba, a PPI Community Partner.
Finally, the PPI Ignite @UL team and community partners presented on various aspects of participatory research and chaired working groups at the largest primary care conference in the world at the end of October at the 51st Annual Working Meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) in San Francisco. This year’s edition documented a record in attendance, with more than 1000 participants engaged in more than 600 presentations.
We are looking forward to uniting our efforts for the 2024 National PPI Festival!
The Irish World Music Café – All welcome
Image
Workshop Collaborative Research – registrations are now open
Image
Launch of new Refugee & Migrant Health Partnership (RMHP) with the Department of Health
In October 2023, UL President Kerstin Mey launched the new ‘Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership’ (RMHP) with the Department of Health and UL’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Center for participatory health research with refugees and migrants, led by Prof Anne MacFarlane (UL School of Medicine).
The Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership is funded by the Department of Health and is designed to involve refugees and migrants directly in the development of public health policy and will also fund bursaries for related teaching programmes and scholarships.
Minister of State, Ms Hilda Naughton addressed the launch opening via video link, affirming the Department of Health’s commitment to the partnership with UL.
Professor Anne MacFarlane, Lead for the UL WHO Collaborating Centre, Professor of Primary Healthcare in UL’s School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Participatory Health Research Unit, said: “This new partnership with the Department of Health is the first of its kind in Ireland. It is designed to create new spaces to bring the voices and experiences of refugees and migrants living in Ireland into policy making processes. This will allow us to learn together about the best ways to adapt services to meet their health needs. Otherwise, there is a disconnect between what refugee and migrants need for their health and what they get. We know that this disconnect leads to negative health outcomes. The ultimate goal of the partnership is to optimise the health of refugees and migrants.”
The event was attended by community partner organisations including Doras, Migrant Health Research Ireland, Ballyhaunis Inclusion Project and Shannon Family Resources Centre, statutory partners including the HSE, Limerick County Council and the Department of Health; and academic colleagues leading research in refugee and migrant health.
For further details, please see https://www.ul.ie/ehs/medicine/news/university-of-limerick-and-department-of-health-to-collaborate-on-migrant-and
Image
August 2023
Micro-credentials Course - Communication and Interpreting in the Irish Healthcare System – applications are open
This course provides specialist knowledge for interpreting in healthcare settings. The purpose of this micro-credential course is to upskill people who interpret, advocate or mediate for refugees and migrants, as well as clinicians and healthcare managers/planners. The course focuses on the role of an interpreter in a healthcare setting and the specifics of the Irish healthcare system with attention to refugee and migrants' entitlements to healthcare. The importance of doctor-patient communication will be covered with a focus on the role of interpreters to support communication between them. The interpreter’s wellbeing will also be discussed.
The deadline for applications is 10th September. For additional details please follow this link.
June 2023
8th PPI Summer School @ UL
The PPI Research Unit at the University of Limerick (UL) held their 8th successful annual UL PPI Summer School from 15th to 16th June 23, which was a sold out event!
110 national and international participants were warmly welcomed by UL’s Prof Anne MacFarlane, Dr Jon Salsberg and Lorna Kerin.
The keynote addresses on PPI were delivered by Prof Payam Sheikhattair (Morgan State University, USA) and Alison Johnson, PPI contributor (Fairfield House, Limerick).
Participants could choose from different interactive workshops led by academics, community professionals as well as patient advocates and PPI leaders.
Some of the workshop topics included: Creative research methods; Co-creating information with health professionals working with Ukrainian Family Carers; Incorporating PPI in an HRB grant application; Research Partnerships with Charities; a Dilemma Café to explore key PPI questions; or an Arts based research with refugees and migrants.
Truly remarkable to have a variety of backgrounds among the group of participants: 36% were PPI contributors and community organisations; 28 % students; 25% academic and 11% policy-makers, funding agencies, and partners from PPI Ignite Network.
At the end of the programme, participants shared their visible enthusiasm to the organisation team: “It was an excellent 2 day event. It was even better than last year. Looking forward to next year already. It was great to be in a place where everyone was interested in PPI and can see the value in all of us working together.”, “Excellent conference. Really enjoyed the relaxed friendly environment. Good opportunity to meet peers also. Would love the networking part to expand the ability to brainstorm with some of the speakers and attendees. Will definitely be going next year and bringing colleagues. Thank you, most enjoyable and beneficial to my research studies” testimonies of PPI Summer School attendees, June 2023.
Image
Image
PPI-RU launches a new Professional Diploma in Public & Patient Involvement in Health Research
In response to the ever-growing demand for high-level training in Public & Patient Involvement (PPI) in health research, the University of Limerick School of Medicine has developed a new Professional Diploma in PPI.
This new programme is a 1-year, part-time, Level-9, 30-ECTS qualification. It will be a blended delivery course with most interaction taking place online, both synchronous and asynchronous, and punctuated with face-to-face practical training blocks in each semester. Its Course Director is Dr Jon Salsberg, Senior Lecturer in Primary Health Care Research, SoM; with major contributions from Prof Anne MacFarlane, Chair in Primary Health Care Research and Director of the PPI Research Unit. Applications are open
PPI Ignite Network@UL bursary scheme 2023/24 – Launch of the call
Part of the PPI Ignite Network grant includes funding for short-term bursaries to support Public and Patient Involvement in health research.
This year the bursaries are aimed at all researchers. Please read below information sheet for detailed information.
Registrations are now closed for the call 2023/2024. Keep an eye on our website for next year’s round of applications.
If you have any queries, please email PPI-ignite@ul.ie
Image
May 2023
Image
PPI Workshop 3 of 6: PPI: Ethics, Governance and Partner Agreements 5th May 9:30am to 11:30am online.
April 2023
Image
Professors Anne MacFarlane, Ailish Hannigan, Helen Phelan, and Dr Fran Garry co-facilitated the workshop “Using Participatory and Arts-Based Methods in Migrant Health Research”, an event that was part of the Research Week UL 2023.
The goal of the session was to offer an experiential sharing of a research model based on a commitment to inclusion in our promotion of health equity; innovation in our use of creative, whole-person methodologies; and the provision of global leadership through this distinctive, University of Limerick approach to participatory research. This one-hour workshop featured a showcase of current research projects with practical examples of how to use this model in migrant health research and beyond.
Image
Join us in GEMS1016 April 19th 1-2pm for the PPI Club with complimentary Tea and Coffee
March 2023
Professors Anne McFarlane and Ailish Hannigan from the Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Research Unit, School of Medicine were invited by the HSE to present their Health Research Board study findings regarding best practices in Ethnic Equality Monitoring. This HSE-based webinar took place on the 8th of March 2023
Promoting the health of refugees and migrants: experiences from around the world
Professor Anne MacFarlane, Dr Kathleen Markey and Dr Molly Manning contributed to a WHO report that showcases positive examples in refugee and migrant health. The report called “Promoting the health of refugees and migrants: experiences from around the world” was developed by the WHO Health and Migration Programme to highlight best practice examples taken in countries towards better health outcomes for the one billion migrants.
IRC New Foundations award – PPI Includes
Prof Anne MacFarlane, School of Medicine, UL has been awarded an IRC New Foundations Award for a new project called PPI INCLUDES.
This is based on a collaboration between the HRB and IRC funded national PPI Ignite Network led by University of Galway, UL’s HRI research cluster Participatory and arts based methods for involving migrants in health research (PART-IM) and UL’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Migrants’ Involvement in Health Research. Limerick-based NGO Doras are the community partner.
PPI INCLUDES will build capacity for refugee and migrants’ involvement in health research in Ireland. This is important because, currently, their involvement is rare, ad hoc and less than other population groups. This project aims to promote migrants’ inclusion in Irish research. It is innovative, inter-disciplinary project that will explore the use of music and singing to build relationships and networks for new participatory research partnerships about refugee and migrant health. It is the result of the combined expertise and global leadership of UL’s School and Medicine and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
February 2023
Training course for researchers, community activists and organisations, health professionals and health policymakers
Offered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Migrant's Involvement in Health Research, Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Research Unit, University of Limerick
Date: 22-24 February 2023 (in person) – Cost: Free
This training covered key issues in participatory health research with migrants. It prepared participants to develop participatory health research projects with meaningful, rather than tokenistic, involvement of migrant communities. The training focused on real-life scenarios and hands-on learning. Guided by the extensive experience of the facilitators, participants gained confidence in developing, conducting and implementing participatory health research with migrants.
For further questions, contact Susann.Huschke@ul.ie
January 2023
The aim of MAMA SING was to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of mothers living in refugee accommodation. The project explored the use of arts-based participatory methods. We utilised singing and music as tools for self-care, empowerment and community building. The project was co-developed and co-facilitated by mothers living in Direct Provision, thereby increasing participation, ownership and inclusion. Link to the project booklet
WHO launches a UL report on participatory research to build ‘migrant-sensitive health systems’. A new report from University of Limerick and the World Health Organisation has shown that participatory research is essential in building migrant-sensitive health systems. The new WHO/Europe report, launched by the WHO on International Migrants Day 2022, 18th December, shows that involving migrants in health research improves migrant-sensitive service delivery and fosters empowerment.
The report was developed by the Migration and Health Programme of WHO/Europe together with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Migrants’ Involvement in Health Research at University of Limerick, led by Professor Anne MacFarlane.
Image
The Arts-based seminar on Refugee and Migrant Health Research – 9th December, the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance hosted the inaugural Refugee and Migrant Health Research Seminar. The first in Ireland focused on making Ireland’s health system more inclusive for people from different cultural backgrounds.Follow this link for more information.
Photographed is the Planning Committee composed of several PPI Research Unit members. Pictured from left to right: Mr Ahmed Hassan Mohamed, Dr Hala Jaber, Prof Helen Phelan, Ms Anna Papyan, Dr Brid O’Brien, Ms Janique Oudbier, Dr Fran Garry, Prof Anne MacFarlane, Dr Molly Manning and Dr Kathleen Markey (Chair).
Image
Music, Arts and Migrant Health Research: A Resource Pack, developed by the HRI, PART-IM (Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for Involving Migrants in Health Research) cluster at UL, was officially launched at the ‘Refugee and Migrant Health Research Seminar: An Arts-Based Event’ at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance on December 9th.
The resource pack is for academics, musicians, migrants and people working in the NGO and health sector who are interested in learning more about how the arts, particularly music, can be used to support meaningful, participatory engagement with migrant communities in the context of health research. The pack includes examples of publications from the PART-IM research cluster and international groups, audio-visual resources, websites and online resources, policy documents, links to Irish support networks for immigrants, Irish and international reports and links of interest, and suggestions for further reading on the topics of arts-based research and migrant health, and singing and social inclusion. The pack also shares material from a number of key events organised by the PART-IM cluster over the last three years, including keynote addresses, symposia and workshops.
Web link: Music, Arts and Migrant Health Research Resource Pack – Irish World Academy
Professor Helen Phelan, Principal Investigator of the Health Research Institute Research Cluster - Participatory and Arts-based methods for Involving Migrants (PART-IM) presented the resource at the conference.
The last edition of the NAPCRG Annual Meeting took place in Phoenix – from 18th to 22nd November. Professor Anne MacFarlane, Dr Jon Salsberg and PhD Candidate Meghan Gilfoyle represented the PPI Research Unit in several events of the programme, e.g. the workshops “What does Person Centred Care look like when the System doesn’t work?” and “When Love Breaks Down: Navigating relationship breakdown in Participatory Health Research, a CASFM-PHR workshop”Pictured in the photo, Meghan Gilfoyle presented her posters “Exploring the multidimensionality of trust in participatory health partnerships - a network approach” and “Exploring how patients and the public are recruited to advisory boards, groups, and panels in collaborative health research”
Image
MAMA SING - IRC New Foundations award. The project aimed to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of mothers living in refugee accommodation. The project explored the use of arts-based participatory methods. We utilised singing and music as tools for self-care, empowerment and community building. The project was co-developed and co-facilitated by mothers living in Direct Provision, thereby increasing participation, ownership and inclusion. The work programme consisted of an online pilot, followed by three in-person workshops in different locations in Limerick. The participants were mothers from different countries, including Sudan, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Brazil.
In the picture some participants of the programme are featured with the Lead coordinator Dr Susann Huschke.
Follow this link to watch a video that summarises this collaboration.
RTÉ Brainstorm: "Refugees and migrants often encounter problems if they do not share the same language and cultural background as the healthcare provider". Article by Prof Anne MacFarlane. Full article here: www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/1102/1332817-interpreters-healthcare-refugees-migrants/
Image
This semester, the University of Limerick is offering the first HEI accredited training opportunity in the field of healthcare interpreting. Coordinated by Prof Anne MacFarlane and Dr Susann Huschke, the course is the first of a number of micro-credential courses to be developed at the University of Limerick and Dublin City University which will be stackable towards a planned graduate diploma in Healthcare Interpreting.
The UL micro-credential course on Communication and Interpreting in the Irish Health Care System started in the autumn 2022 with a class of 33 participants. The course results in 6 ECTS and aims to upskill those working in multi-lingual/cross-cultural healthcare settings. The course focuses on real life scenarios and experiential, practice-based learning in a diverse student group. It is run as one in-person workshop followed by six online sessions.
In the picture some students of this first edition are featured.
National PPI Festival - Public & patient involvement: connecting communities:
The first National PPI Festival is happening on 10 – 23 October 2022, offering events all over the country. The PPI Research Unit at the University of Limerick is organising and promoting some events for this year’s calendar:
- 13th October - Webinar “Experiences of co-designing and co-facilitating the ‘What young people want from school mental health and suicide prevention’ video” The main focus of this presentation is to discuss the co-design and co-facilitation of a MYSTORY study video sharing young people’s asks for school mental health and suicide prevention, This presentation will also overview the community partnership between SCY-LAB and Limerick Youth Service and the MYSTORY study. Join the webinar here!
- 14th October – Launch of the UL PPI-Ignite Bursaries call 2022-2023
These bursaries are aimed to support UL researchers and UL PhD candidates in public and patient involvement in health research. Applications are invited from researchers to support partnerships with community and/or patient organisations. Please consult the information sheet for further details and the application form to apply. - 17th October - Facilitation Skills Workshop
During facilitation activities, the facilitator is the enabler of the articulation and sharing of participants’ expertise. In this workshop, participants will learn to use his/her presence and skills to enable dialogue and disclosure of the group, so they can feel confident to share their real, personal experiences, opinions, and suggestions/recommendations.
- 20th October – Launch of the book “Research Coproduction Healthcare” - webinar
Professor Anne MacFarlane and Dr Jon Salsberg co-authored the chapter “Conceptualizing and Theorizing for Research Coproduction”. Please consult the flyer for more information about this interactive webinar and registration
- Professor Ailish Hannigan and Professor Anne MacFarlane were invited by WHO Geneva to participate in a consultation about WHO’s Global Research Agenda on Health and Migration. Professor Hannigan was invited to be working group rapporteur, reporting back to the plenary session.
- The HRI PART-IM research cluster is delighted to announce that the Irish World Music Café is back live in the UL City Campus. The café was created in 2015 in Limerick, in the context of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. The Café hosts music-based social gatherings which aim to create spaces of hospitality with new migrants in Ireland. Since 2019, cluster PI Prof. Helen Phelan has been working closely with Prof. Anne MacFarlane in integrating the Café model into migrant health research initiatives. In 2020, the café moved online and cluster member Dr Hala Jaber coordinates a vibrant cafe facebook page. From 26 September 2022 onwards, the café will meet on a weekly basis on Mondays, 11.30-1pm in the city campus, coordinated by cluster member Ewa Zak-Dyndal, in association with our community partner, Doras, represented by Ahmed Hassan and Serhii Korobstov
- Editorial ‘Disrupting patterns of exclusion in participatory spaces: Involving people from vulnerable populations’ co-authored by Anne MacFarlane and Joe LeMaster now published in Health Expectations’ What’s Up With Everyone? issue
- Prof Helen Phelan, with STEM co-PI Prof Ailish Hannigan, was selected as one of 21 recipients to receive a total investment of €4.9 million under the Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges (COALESCE) programme. The awards are being made as part of the fourth cycle of COALESCE, which funds excellent research addressing national and European-global challenges.
The interdisciplinary, participatory project titled “The Arts, Data literacy and Diversity (ADD)” explores how the arts can be used to develop data literacy. This research will develop a project that shares songs and data, in partnership with communities from different cultural backgrounds and will combine the arts and statistics to explore the impact of musical sharing on how data is understood and interpreted. The project addresses the UN sustainable development goal of reducing inequality, as many people are excluded from the new world of data by language, poverty, lack of education, and discrimination.
7th Public and Patient Involvement Annual Summer School
The PPI Research Unit organised the 7th PPI Annual Summer School, hosted in person on the 23rd and 24th of June. UL welcomed 87 participants from various backgrounds: community organisations, PPI contributors, Academia, policy makers and students.
The keynote addresses were given by Professor Séan Dinneen, from NUI Galway, and Dr Anne Drabczyk, Fulbright Commission USA & UL.
During the two days, the participants were divided into smaller groups to attend 8 dynamic workshops.
For more information, see the full programme and bios.
We hosted the Community Interpreting Conference 2022, May 13th, organised by the PPI Research Unit with Keynote Speaker Dr Théophile Munyangeyo and Prof. Anne MacFarlane as Conference Chair.
Professor Anne MacFarlane and Professor Ailish Hannigan's completed research about ethnicity data collection has been featured in the HRB Your Health Research in Action publication. The Ethnic Minority Health in Ireland project was co-designed by academic, community and health sector partners. It mapped where information about ethnicity and culture was already being collected in relation to health. It also focused on what enables or stops ethnicity data collection in primary care settings from the point of view of Irish Travellers, refugees and immigrants, as well as GPs. Read more their research.
Professor Anne MacFarlane was invited to speak at a Plenary session of the WHO European Region, a High-Level Meeting on Health and Migration, March 17th 2022. Professor MacFarlane was representing the Region’s network of migrant health Collaborating Centres.
The participation provided an opportunity to summarise research findings from her national and international research programme about the importance of trained interpreters in healthcare consultations for Ministries of Health from the 53 Member States. The relevance of the issue was very clear and poignant at this time given the crises in Ukraine and the rising numbers of refugees displaced in Europe because of that conflict.
Join us for this special Irish World Music Café to celebrate International Human Rights Day with songs and stories, and to launch a new action plan for migrant health research, supported by the HRI, UL and IRC. Link here.
- The PPI-RU and HRI PART IM research cluster leading an arts-based workshop @ NAPCRG Annual Meeting 2021. Breathing exercises for everyone for whole body engagement in our discussions!
- The launch of the PPI Ignite Network was such a positive event, with great enthusiasm and good will evident, even online. Our own Dr. Jon Salsberg presented on Embedding PPI in education/training and PPI Manager, Úna McInerney, aided Martha Killilea with the hearing from the audience section. Launch video available: here.
- Professor Anne MacFarlane was invited by WHO Euro to present the PPI Research Unit, WHO Collaborating Centre for Migrants’ Involvement in Health Research as a case study at a WHO Collaborating Centres Regional Webinar, November 2-3 2021.
- ‘What helps people with aphasia to live well?’ Presenting the findings of Molly Manning’s interview study with people with aphasia in Ireland. This interview study and dissemination format was informed by consultation with PPI contributors with aphasia.
- Resuscitating our Culture Experience through the Arts" Webinar Event for Black History Month Curated by John Nutekpor in association with Microsoft, Limerick
- Dr. Molly Manning’s PhD paper is one of the top 10% most cited papers in PLOS ONE for 2019. Dr. Molly Manning is lecturer in Speech & Language Therapy. Her research focus includes participatory implementation approaches to improving stroke care for living well with aphasia.
- Welcome to Dénia Claudino who has joined us as Project Officer at the PPI Research Unit. She comes with both research and NGO experience and will be supporting all of our projects.
- The opinion paper ‘Optimising individual and community involvement in health decision-making in general practice consultations and primary care settings: A way forward’ by Dr. Anne MacFarlane was selected by the Editors as one of the most valued articles published in European Journal of General Practice in 2020.
- The PPI Summer School took place online again in 2021. With over 160 people registered, we had lots of lively discussion and information-sharing.
- Professor Anne MacFarlane presented at the European Medical Students Association Talking with Patients workshop about communication with refugees and migrants.
-
Welcome to Anna Papyan who has joined the PPI Research Unit as research assistant for the HRI-funded Participatory arts-based research for involving migrants in health research cluster (PART-IM). The cluster is led by Research Unit member Professor Helen Phelan of the Irish World Academy of Music and Research.
-
Congratulations to Dr Jon Salsberg who received a Research Recognition Awards 2020/21 from UL Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. Jon’s award was in the Research Culture category for his work in promoting public and patient involvement in health research.
