Participatory Health Research - Professional Diploma

Participatory Health Research (PHR) is defined as the co-creation of new knowledge by researchers working in equitable partnerships with those affected by the issue under study or those who will benefit from or ultimately act on its results. High quality PHR is about active and meaningful engagement with patients, carers, health care professionals, charities, community organisations and other members of the public throughout all stages of the research process, in order to create action and change benefitting both the immediate partners and the wider community.

This Professional Diploma in PHR is intended for existing research or clinical professionals who are seeking the additional knowledge, competencies and skills to employ participatory processes in their research. It is also relevant for professionals working in NGOs as well as health service planners. 

Over the course of this part-time, one-year, Level-9 programme, students become acquainted with the theories, methods and tools they will need to undertake high quality PHR. This will include a comprehensive survey of literature and methods, exploration of participatory approaches within a wide variety populations and clinical and community settings, and critical consideration of ethical, power and equity issues inherent in this approach.

The general flow for the programme is online weekly asynchronous assignments (ie, at your own pace, but completed by the end of each week). This is punctuated by 1-2 online synchronous periods per module, where students all come together (online) for 2 hours to do an exercise. And once per month, there is the live (online) tutorial session for working together on progressing your research projects and dealing with any issues that arise.

There are two in-person/on-campus training blocks, one in the Autumn and one in the Spring/Summer to coincide with the Public & Patient Involvement Summer School. The Autumn block is 2 days (Thurs-Fri) on campus in week 7. The Spring Summer block will be 4 days, 2 for methods, 2 for the Summer School. These will be Tues-Fri, 18-21 June 2024.

This programme is practical, offering students the opportunity to design a participatory project over the course of the year. This allows students to experience the building of partnerships with community and PPI contributors and codesigning research within a meaningful collaboration. Upon completion of the programme, graduates will have equipped themselves with the knowledge, competencies and skills they will need to succeed at a career in participatory health research.