Patient and public involvement
CHRONIC PAIN
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) work enabled lived experience to inform follow-up of participants. The study benefitted from the continued input of the Patient Experience Partnership in Research (PEP-R) group, an experienced group of people with musculoskeletal conditions and/or experience of joint replacement surgery, who had been involved with the STAR trial from its conceptualisation. To ensure the inclusion of the perspectives of people with experience of chronic pain after TKR, participants in the STAR trial who were randomised to the intervention arm were invited to join a dedicated project forum following completion of the four-year follow-up questionnaire. The groups convened at key timepoints over the duration of the study to review and advise on the study approach processes, refine patient-facing documentation, and discuss appropriate channels for dissemination. When necessary, the PPI lead also met with patient members individually. A patient-partner was a member of the Programme Steering Committee, providing helpful oversight from the patient perspective.