Patient and public involvement workshop to shape artificial intelligence-supported connected asthma self-management research

Digital interventions with artificial intelligence (AI) can potentially support people with asthma to reduce the risk of exacerbation. Engaging patients throughout the development process is essential to ensure usability of the intervention for the end-users. Using our Connected for Asthma (C4A) intervention as an exemplar, we explore how patient involvement can shape a digital intervention. Seven Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) colleagues from the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research participated in four advisory workshops to discuss how they would prefer to use/interact with AI to support living with their asthma, the benefit and caveats to use the AI that incorporated asthma monitoring and indoor/outdoor environmental data. Discussion focussed on the three most wanted use cases identified in our previous studies. PPI colleagues wanted AI to support data collection, remind them about self-management tasks, teach them about asthma environmental triggers, identify risk, and empower them to confidently look after their asthma whilst emphasising that AI does not replace clinicians. The discussion informed the key components in the next C4A interventions, including the approach to interacting with AI, the technology features and the research topics. Attendees highlighted the importance of considering health inequities, the presentation of data, and concerns about data accuracy, data privacy, security and ownership. We have demonstrated how patient roles can shift from that of ‘user’ (the traditional ‘tester’ of a digital intervention), to a co-design partner who shapes the next iteration of the intervention. Technology innovators should seek practical and feasible strategies to involve PPI colleagues throughout the development cycle of a digital intervention; supporting researchers to explore the barriers, concerns, enablers and advantages of implementing digital healthcare.<br/

A public panel reviews applications and questions applicants: Team member and public contributor discuss a transparent and inclusive approach to data access reviews

Objectives We created a panel with members of the public and longitudinal study participants who review our data access requests. This panel forms an integral part of our data access application process, giving the public a say who can access the data for research. Methods We advertised our lay member vacancies using social media, newsletters, word of mouth and the internet. We appointed six people to the public panel. Our panel includes study participants, NHS service users, parents, carers, and people with experience of disability, neurodiversity, and long-term health conditions. The Panel Terms of Reference were created with help from stakeholders and study teams involved in longitudinal studies that involve the public in data access applications. This ensured that the purpose of the panel was clear. The panel reviews lay summaries and makes sure that researchers have adequate public involvement in their project. Results Panel members have reviewed 28 applications. Researchers present their research at an online meeting with the panel then answer questions from the panel members. We publish meeting minutes on our website for transparency. A 6-month review was overwhelmingly positive - all panel members indicated they felt valued. They felt able to challenge and question researchers as part of the data access application process. This provides a level of public scrutiny to our work. “I feel there’s a real value in the panel. You get a real sense that this has got such potential to make a contribution.” (panel member) We are further developing the Panel Terms of Reference with panel members. We will consider additional areas of responsibility, for example, public benefit review. Conclusion We regularly review how to improve public involvement in our work. The panel has proven its value during our application process. Therefore we are exploring with the panel a new approach to assess the public benefit of applications and what is meant by ‘public benefit research’

Chinese medicine for immunological functions in women with breast cancer or a history of breast cancer (Intervention Protocol)

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effectiveness of Chinese medicine (CM) for immunological function in women with breast cancer or a history of breast cancer when CM is compared with no treatment, placebo, conventional therapies, acupuncture or other forms of alternatives defined in the review. We will also assess adverse effects resulting from CM intervention