Capturing learning from public involvement with people experiencing homelessness to help shape new physiotherapy research: Utilizing a reflective model with an under‐served, vulnerable population

Abstract

Introduction

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have poorer health than housed people but face barriers accessing care and being involved in research. As an often‐ignored group, their contribution to help shape research that is for and about them is essential, as it can strengthen the research proposal, in turn facilitating research and outcomes that are relevant to this vulnerable group.

Methods

Six people with experience of homelessness attended a PPI consultation aided by Pathway, a UK homeless peer advocacy charity, which coordinates an ‘Experts by Experience’ group. We present reflections on conducting PPI with PEH that informed the development of a physiotherapy research proposal. Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle guided reflections across four stages: (1) describing the PPI experience; (2) reviewing and reflecting on the PPI experience; (3) learning from the PPI experience; and (4) planning and trying out learning.

Results

Reflections highlighted the importance of: working closely with an advocacy organisation and leader to reach under‐served people; the diversity of experiences; using familiar venues, contingency and budget planning; flexibility and ‘allowing time; talking less; listening more’; planning for early and ongoing PPI, and the potential of mobile ‘one‐off’ PPI outreach models to reach vulnerable groups.

Conclusion

Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle aided team reflection on feedback from PEH, which helped refine and strengthen a physiotherapy research proposal. The project was unfunded. However, a reflective model helped maximize learning and impact including for future PPI and research. The novel application of Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle provided structure, facilitated reflection and enhanced individual and collective learning and may benefit capturing learning from PPI with other vulnerable populations.

Patient or Public Contribution

We highlight how a PPI consultation with people with experience of homelessness helped shape a funding proposal. Additionally, the reflections of the experts by experience team leader are included.