Public engagement in palliative and end of life care research

Public engagement has grown as a core component of high-quality palliative and end of life care research. However, ambiguity persists around how best to incorporate the experiences and views of the public in the developing, doing, and disseminating of research. Using the ‘Public Engagement Onion’ developed by the Wellcome Trust as a roadmap, this chapter seeks to explore the benefits, challenges, and opportunities available to researchers as they collaborate with, consult with, and inform the public about their research, and consider approaches to evaluating and reporting the success of such engagement. Case studies from Ireland and Australia are provided to illustrate practical, real-life examples of successful public engagement. Key questions and guidance on what, when, why, how, and with whom public engagement should be undertaken are outlined. Such considerations can help to ensure that research is relevant, accessible, ethically sound, and ultimately improves outcomes for patients and service users.