Med-SMART: Research on How Doctors and Medical Teams are Organised in Irish Hospitals

Introduction

Research Area:

Health services research; health workforce; patient safety; quality of care; hospital care; healthcare planning

What is the research about?

Med-SMART is a research project about medical workforce staffing and skill mix in Irish hospitals. This means looking at how decisions are made about doctors’ staffing, roles, team mix and working arrangements, and how these decisions may affect patient care, communication, access, safety, quality and public trust.
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
The Med-SMART research team would like to involve patients, carers, family members, service users and members of the public to help make sure the project is clear, relevant and grounded in real experiences of healthcare in Ireland.
We would like to hear from people with lived experience of Irish health services about what matters to them when thinking about how doctors and medical teams are organised in hospitals. Their input will help the research team make project materials clearer, interpret findings from a public and patient perspective, and share results in ways that are accessible and meaningful.
This is not a survey or a one-off focus group. It is an opportunity to advise and work with the research team during the project.
What will PPI contributors do?
PPI contributors will join the Med-SMART PPI Panel and advise the research team during the project. This may include giving feedback on plain-English materials, commenting on information leaflets or interview questions, sharing views on how medical staffing and team organisation may affect patient experience, and advising on how findings can be shared with public and patient audiences.
The project will finish in May 2028, so involvement is expected to continue for nearly two years from now. The Panel is expected to meet around four times per year. Most meetings will take place online. Contributors may also be invited to review short documents between meetings, depending on their availability and interest.
Preparation will be kept manageable, and the research team will provide clear information and support. The team will also aim to show how contributors’ input has influenced the project.
Panel members will be offered payment/reimbursement for their time and reasonable expenses, in line with RCSI/HRB guidance. Further details will be provided before involvement begins.
Who can take part?
We are hoping to include around 4–6 people with different experiences and perspectives.
We welcome expressions of interest from people aged 18 years or older who live in Ireland, or who have experience of using health services in Ireland. This may include members of the public, patients, carers, family members, service users, or people who have supported someone during a hospital or healthcare experience.
No research or medical knowledge is needed, and previous PPI or research experience is not required. Panel members will not be expected to speak on behalf of all patients or all members of the public. We are interested in each person’s own perspective.
Taking part is voluntary, and contributors can stop being involved at any time.
Dr Razieh Safarifard
Postdoctoral Researcher, Med-SMART Project
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Email: raziehsafarifard@rcsi.ie
After someone expresses interest, a member of the research team will follow up with more information. We may also arrange an online information session or a short one-to-one conversation to explain the Panel, answer questions and discuss availability.
Closing date for expressions of interest: 31th July 2026

Opportunity for:

Person living with condition / Member of the public / Parent or carer / Service user

Involvement Opportunity Details

Time

Time commitment:

The PPI Panel will meet around four times per year, mostly online, over the two-year Med-SMART project. Meetings are expected to last about 1.5–2 hours each. Panel members may also be invited to attend occasional co-design workshops or dissemination events, depending on their availability and interest. Involvement is flexible.

Contact between meetings:

Between meetings, we may share short updates or ask Panel members to look at brief materials, such as plain-English summaries or project information. This will depend on each person’s availability and interest. The research team will also share brief project updates and explain how PPI input has influenced the study. Most contact will be by email or online, and we will keep communication clear, simple and flexible.

Length of involvement:

Around two years of the project

Start date for involvement:

03/08/2026

Logistics  

Where?

Online / In Person

If online, explain how:

Online meetings will usually take place using Microsoft Teams. Between meetings, most contact will be by email, including short updates, meeting links, agendas and any brief materials to review. We will keep online communication clear, simple and flexible.

If in person, explain where:

Any in-person meetings or events are expected to take place at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin. In-person attendance will be discussed in advance and will depend on Panel members’ availability. Most involvement is expected to be online.

Other ways of communicating:

agendas and any brief materials to review. We will keep online communication clear / Between meetings / including short updates / meeting links / most contact will be by email / simple and flexible. / simple and flexible. If Panel members would like more information or discussion / such as a short webinar / using Microsoft Teams / we can arrange an additional online session / workshop or one-to-one discussion / Zoom or Google Meet.

Funding available for:

PPI contributor’s time / Travel and other expenses

If no funding available, explain why:

Not applicable

Other Information

Stage of the research study/ programme:

Research started

Is this opportunity for PPI in a PhD:

No

Closing date to contact researchers:

30/04/2028

Research Team

Contact person:

Dr Razieh Safarifard, Postdoctoral Researcher

University/organisation:

Med-SMART Project RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Contact email:

raziehsafarifard@rcsi.ie

Researcher background:

Health services researchers with expertise in healthcare management, medical workforce planning, implementation science, patient safety and public and patient involvement. The wider research team includes clinicians, policy/health workforce experts, and PPI contributors.

Research funder:

Health Research Board

Photo:

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