Since the coronavirus pandemic has emerged in the UK, ARC North West Coast’s (NWC) Equitable Placed Based Health and Care Theme (EPHC) has been reviewing how it can mobilise its capacity to respond.

With a research emphasis on exploring community approaches to health challenges within placed based settings, the team designed a short pilot study project to explore individual responses to the pandemic with a cohort of ARC NWC public advisers. The study aims to test out a diary method approach as a tool for collecting public insights and experiences of how the coronavirus is affecting daily life in local communities. This pilot specifically involves members of the public who are advisers to ARC research.

The intention of this study is to involve members of the public in testing out and supporting the development of recommendations for the future design and conduct of research in complex situations, where face to face methods are not feasible. The pilot study involves participants recording their views and experiences using a weekly online diary tool, as well as participating in weekly telephone/video ‘check in’ calls. The project went live in mid-April and ends on 21st June.

Traditional research methods are having to be re imagined during this pandemic and so in the early stages of planning the EPHC team agreed to use remote technology. It was a gamble. The researchers had only recently received training themselves and didn’t want the pilot to fail due to IT issues!

‘It was a different and novel way of working for the team. We all had to adapt really quickly. We were keen to elicit view about the virus in real time and as the lockdown developed so knew we had to embrace technology and encourage and support participants to use it , otherwise the pilot would fail’

Quotes

Emerging findings from the pilot suggests that participants were responsive to the use of technology. In particular individuals valued being able to ‘face to face ‘conversations with researchers via Microsoft teams as part of weekly ‘check in’ calls.

EPHC Theme Manager

‘I find it really easy to use and it makes me feel involved in the [ARC] research. I often struggle to attend meetings as I don’t drive due to a health condition. Using Teams has allowed me to get involved in something that I might not have been able to previously’

Diary Participant

‘Travelling to meetings from where I live is difficult. ARC geography is massive and previously I have to leave at 5.30am for a 10am meeting. I can now have a discussion with you in my dressing gown!’

Diary Participant