Benin Hub Director joins Benin CEI Lead to discuss patient and community involvement in research during research congress event in Cotonou

The GSU Benin Hub and the Beninese Surgical Society held a joint research congress in Cotonou from the 2nd – 4th August 2023. As part of this, the Benin Hub led by Prof Ismail Lawani and Ms Josette Gnele held a workshop on the basic principles of Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI). The interactive session was attended by surgeons, community health workers and patients from districts where GSU trials are held.

Topics discussed during the workshop touched on the importance of CEI and how it can be integrated into research projects and the practicalities of communicating research findings in lay language to communities. Following the workshop, Prof Lawani outlined the Hub’s plans of establishing a national CEI steering committee composed of patients, community health workers and surgeons.

CEI as defined by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) is the collaborative way of working with communities who are most likely to be affected by the research outcomes. CEI activities can range from consulting with patients about the acceptability of a clinical trial to training community members to perform aspects of a project normally delegated to researchers such as data collection.

You can find out more information on the Benin Hub by clicking here.

For more information on CEI activites across the GSU, click here.