Faculty Webinar - How public involvement shaped research to improve shared decision-making for recurrent UTIs - The IMPART Study with Dr Leigh Sanyaolu
Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are a common and burdensome condition. Long-term antibiotic use remains a common strategy for prevention, despite growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance. In this webinar, Dr Leigh Sanyaolu will share findings from his Health and Care Research Wales/NIHR Doctoral Fellowship, highlighting how meaningful public involvement shaped and inspired every stage of the research.
From the outset, a dedicated Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team worked alongside the research team. Their lived experiences directly informed the research by supporting the design of qualitative interviews, the selection of outcomes that matter most to patients and the interpretation of study findings from the perspective of those with lived experience. This collaborative approach helped ensure the research remained relevant, respectful, and responsive to the needs of people living with rUTIs.
The session will showcase the co-development of a prototype decision aid, designed to support shared decision-making between patients and clinicians. Drawing on data from clinical trials, linked health records in the SAIL Databank, and qualitative interviews, the research demonstrates how patient perspectives can drive research that leads to more person-centred and effective care.
Throughout the webinar, Dr Sanyaolu will reflect on the practical ways in which public contributors inspired, challenged and improved the research, ensuring it remained grounded in real-world needs and experiences.
Speaker:
Dr Leigh Sanyaolu is a practicing GP and a Clinical Research Fellow at the Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University. He currently holds a Health and Care Research Wales Next Steps Award, and his research focuses on improving the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in primary care.
During his Health and Care Research Wales /NIHR Doctoral Fellowship, Leigh developed a prototype evidence-based decision aid to support shared decision-making between patients and clinicians around recurrent UTI prevention. This research integrated data from clinical trials, linked healthcare records in the SAIL Databank, and qualitative interviews. It was conducted in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency, the Health Data Research UK team at Population Data Science Swansea University, Bladder Health UK and a dedicated Patient and Public Involvement team who were actively involved throughout.
Leigh is passionate about translating research into practical tools that reduce antibiotic resistance, improve patient outcomes, and inform future care strategies.
Submit your question for Leigh to answer during the webinar.