Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and Bournemouth University PhD student, Cathy Beresford has presented her public involvement strategy at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences conference at Bournemouth University.
Cathy was appointed a fully funded Lewis-Manning PhD Studentship at BU in September 2022 due to complete in 2025.
Her PhD studies are qualitative research with people who have advanced liver disease to explore their palliative and end-of-life care experiences. She is receiving support from the experienced researchers and clinicians from Bournemouth University and Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.
Cathy is a qualified nurse with an MSc in Primary Care and a background in diabetes specialist nursing.
Commenting on her presentation at the conference, Cathy advised, “The title of my talk was ‘Public involvement in postgraduate research’ which I discussed in the context my research on palliative and end of life care for people with advanced liver disease.
“Public involvement has been a key part of the project, to date as it’s really important to involve people who are living with liver disease in the research design. Earlier this year I held a public involvement workshop online, involving 4 people with liver disease and 4 carers of those with liver disease. I shared my research project with the group, asking for advice on how to go about the research, who should be recruited for interview, and what sort of questions I should be asking. I view it as extremely important to listen to the perspectives of people with lived experience of the condition to ensure that the study is meaningful, appropriate and high quality for those with liver disease and for those who care for them.
“At the conference, I presented to an audience of other members of the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences at BU, including other postgraduate researchers and academics. Following my presentation there was a Q & A session with interest from the audience about how public involvement has influenced my approach to the study.”
Cathy added, “I am so grateful for support that I am receiving from Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, I wouldn’t be able to study for this PhD without it. It’s an amazing personal and professional opportunity for me.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies which have been really varied and in recent months have included additional activities such as shadowing a Hepatology Specialist Nurse to understand more about her role and meet people with liver disease, attending the Marie Curie Research Conference online, undertaking training at Bournemouth University in qualitative data management software and attending a variety of university workshops as part of the Researcher Development Programme. I have recently submitted a paper for publication in a health journal and will shortly find out if it has been accepted”.
“I’ve been really impressed with the collaboration of the hospice and BU and all the connections made; it’s making a real difference to improving care for people in this field.”
Hospice CEO Clare Gallie concluded, “We are enjoying following Cathy’s PhD journey and delighted that her studies are progressing so well. Her funded studies are with huge thanks to three very generous supporters of the hospice; Professor Howard Thomas, who is a key supporter of the charity and Emeritus Professor of Hepatology at Imperial College London and a former Chair, NICE Clinical Guideline Development Group on treatment of chronic hepatitis Band NICE and hospice Patrons Sir Simon and Jill Campbell.”