Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss, with increasing prevalence as populations age. Despite advances in early detection and treatment, late-stage AMD remains irreversible, underscoring the need for preventive strategies and equitable access to care. This protocol outlines a qualitative research project co-developed with public contributors, addressing two priorities: promoting preventive actions to delay progression and reducing eye health inequalities through improved community engagement. The study employs a two-component approach led by individuals with lived experience of AMD. First, focus groups stratified by socioeconomic status will explore public understanding of AMD and preventive eye care, identify barriers and enablers to routine eye examination attendance, and examine gaps in health messaging in Lothian, Scotland. Second, iterative workshops will co-develop tailored health messages and engagement strategies with public contributors and stakeholders, translating findings into accessible, community-informed materials. Data will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis guided by the Andersen Behavioural Model (BMHSU) and the Health Belief Model (HBM), applying a combined deductive–inductive approach to capture both theoretical and emergent themes. Public contributors will participate throughout data collection, analysis, and interpretation to ensure findings remain grounded in lived experience. By examining how individual and contextual factors shape engagement with eye care across socioeconomic groups, this research aims to inform equity-focused strategies for earlier detection and AMD prevention.
Keywords
Background
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among older adults worldwide (Deng et al., 2022). The global burden of AMD is rapidly escalating, with prevalence projected to surge from 196 million cases in 2020 to 288 million by 2040, driven primarily by population aging (Brown et al., 2023; Di Carlo & Augustin, 2021; Huang et al., 2024). This epidemiological trajectory poses an unprecedented challenge to healthcare systems globally, as the sheer volume of new cases threatens to overwhelm existing resources and care pathways. The public health impact of AMD extends far beyond individual vision loss. Once AMD progresses to its late stages—characterised by geographic atrophy or neovascular changes—the resulting vision loss becomes irreversible, imposing profound burdens on affected individuals, their families, and healthcare systems (Bunce et al., 2010; Owen et al., 2003). While therapeutic advances, particularly anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatments, have transformed the management of neovascular AMD, these interventions cannot restore vision already lost and remain resource-intensive to deliver at population scale.
This reality has shifted the clinical focus toward early detection and intervention during the window when AMD progression can still be meaningfully altered. The early and intermediate stages of AMD present critical opportunities for intervention through lifestyle modifications, nutritional supplementation, and regular monitoring, which can substantially alter disease trajectory (Gopinath et al., 2017; Hogg et al., 2017; Joachim et al., 2015; Nunes et al., 2018; Pameijer et al., 2022; Saunier et al., 2018; Wright et al., 2020). Technological advances in retinal imaging now enable detection of subclinical AMD changes years before symptomatic vision loss occurs, creating unprecedented opportunities for early intervention.
The Scottish Collaborative Optometry-Ophthalmology Network eResearch (SCONe) project was established in response to advance early detection approaches. SCONe has established a comprehensive community-acquired retinal image repository, linked to clinical and demographic, creating an unprecedented resource for advancing AMD research (Tochel et al., 2024, 2025). By leveraging artificial intelligence in retinal image analysis, SCONe aims to revolutionise early detection and clinical management of AMD at the population level through community optometry services—the primary point of eye care access for most adults in Scotland.
However, technological innovation alone cannot address the AMD epidemic. While advanced retinal imaging techniques could enable detection of subclinical changes years before symptomatic vision loss, these capabilities only translate to public health benefit if at-risk populations can access and engage with preventive services. This protocol addresses a fundamental prerequisite for effective AMD prevention: understanding population engagement with community optometry services in Lothian, Scotland, by systematically identifying the barriers and enablers that influence how at-risk populations access and utilise eye care services. This research aims to inform the development of targeted interventions to ensure that advances in early detection translate into reduced vision loss at the population level.
Study Justification
Central to SCONe’s approach is Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), which leverages the lived experiences of individuals affected by AMD to guide research direction and ensure relevance. To support this, SCONe co-developed with its public contributors a three-tiered framework—Involvement, Engagement, and Consultation—that allows for layered participation and sustainable growth of the work over time (Rubio et al., 2026). The Involvement tier represents the most intensive level of collaboration, where the SCONe PPI group—comprising six individuals aged 50 and over with lived experience of AMD—works in partnership with researchers to co-design studies and set priorities. Engagement fosters transparency through ongoing dialogue about SCONe processes and findings, while Consultation enables broader input from the wider public where direct involvement is less feasible. The present AMD prevention protocol is situated within the Consultation tier but is guided by the Involvement tier, ensuring that its objectives and methods are grounded in and led by lived experience (Figure 1). SCONe’s PPIE framework
Through ongoing consultation with and involvement of the SCONe PPI group, a critical public health gap emerged: members consistently reported receiving an AMD diagnosis only at intermediate or late stages, largely due to limited awareness of the preventive role of community optometry services. This lack of early engagement restricted opportunities for prevention through modifiable behaviours and timely management, contributing to poorer outcomes. To explore these insights in a broader context, a preliminary qualitative study with ten adults aged 30–45 in Lothian revealed similarly limited awareness of AMD and confusion about the preventive purpose of routine eye examinations, aligning with published evidence of poor eye health literacy in the wider public (Capó et al., 2022; Irving et al., 2018; Scott et al., 2016; Shickle et al., 2014; Shickle & Griffin, 2014; Sloan et al., 2014). Importantly, within the Scottish context, pronounced socioeconomic disparities have been documented: individuals from more deprived areas access routine eye examinations up to six times less often than those from more affluent backgrounds (Dickey et al., 2012, 2016; Public Health Scotland, 2024).
Taken together, these insights highlight a research public health gap: while Scotland’s universal free eye examination policy has removed financial barriers, persistent inequalities and limited awareness continue to undermine early engagement with preventive eye care. Without targeted efforts to improve health literacy and address socioeconomic barriers, opportunities for early detection and AMD prevention will remain unrealised. Addressing these challenges requires approaches that integrate lived experience with public health expertise to produce messages and strategies that resonate across diverse communities.
This paper describes the protocol for a study aimed at addressing the following two interrelated objectives: 1. To examine how individual and contextual factors shape public understanding of AMD and preventive eye care in Lothian, identifying barriers and enablers that influence routine eye examination uptake. 2. To co-develop tailored health messages and engagement strategies with public contributors and stakeholders to address gaps in eye health literacy.
Methodology
This section outlines the approach used to achieve the study objectives. The research is embedded within the SCONe infrastructure, with the SCONe PPI group actively involved across all stages, shaping study design, implementation, and interpretation. To provide a visual overview of the study structure and flow, Figure 2 presents a diagram illustrating the work between SCONe operational group and the SCONe PPI group, and the progression from preliminary work to the current project and its two interrelated objectives. Overview of research design
The methodology comprises two complementary components: 1. Qualitative Exploration: Focus groups were conducted to explore public perspectives on AMD and preventive eye care across different population groups. Findings from these sessions will provide a foundational understanding of barriers, enablers, and contextual factors influencing engagement with eye care services. 2. Co-development Health Messages: Building on qualitative insights, workshops with the SCONe PPI group and key stakeholders will co-develop tailored health messages and engagement strategies. This iterative process will ensure that materials are grounded in lived experience and responsive to identified needs.
These components are complementary and interconnected, with qualitative findings directly informing the co-development process, while collaborative message development will generate insights that enhance understanding of effective engagement strategies.
Qualitative Exploration
This qualitative component explores how individuals perceive and engage with routine eye examinations as a preventive health behaviour, with particular attention to the influence of socioeconomic deprivation. The study aims to understand how people—regardless of AMD diagnosis status—conceptualise eye health, identify factors they associate with AMD onset and progression, and perceive the relevance of preventive measures including routine examinations and lifestyle modifications. Focus groups were selected as the primary methodology for several reasons: they encourage participant interaction and generate rich discussions around shared norms, barriers, and beliefs; they are particularly effective for exploring complex topics such as healthcare trust, health-seeking behaviours, and service perceptions; and they can facilitate disagreements and reflections on others’ ideas, offering a more comprehensive view essential for our research objectives (Krueger, 2014; Morgan, 1997). This approach is well-suited for our project on eye health literacy, since eye health literacy is an unexplored subject, focus groups help achieve a broader understanding. Furthermore, our second objective of co-developing messages to encourage engagement with primary eye care, focus groups foster collaborative insights.
Analytical Approach
This qualitative study employs two complementary theoretical frameworks to examine different dimensions of eye care engagement. The Andersen Behavioural Model of Health Service Use (BMHSU) is applied to Sessions 1 and 2 to examine current engagement patterns, exploring predisposing factors (demographics, beliefs), enabling factors (resources, accessibility), and need factors (perceived health needs) that influence eye care utilisation. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is applied to Session 3 to analyse participants' responses to preventive messaging and identify which message elements participants perceive as motivating or discouraging for routine engagement. This dual-framework approach enables comprehensive exploration of both current engagement patterns (Sessions 1-2) and potential behaviour change pathways through targeted messaging (Session 3), with Session 3 findings directly informing the subsequent co-development of health promotion materials.
Methodological Rigour
This qualitative study will be conducted with careful attention to methodological rigour to enhance the credibility, dependability, and transparency of the research process. Rigour will be supported through a clearly defined analytical approach and systematic procedures for data collection and analysis, with analytic decisions and coding development documented throughout the process using qualitative data management software (NVivo). Reflexivity will be embedded throughout the study, with researchers critically reflecting on their assumptions, positions, and potential influences on data generation and interpretation. Data analysis will be conducted iteratively and discussed within the research team to support consistency and confirmability. Meaningful involvement of patient and public contributors will further strengthen rigour by ensuring that study design, interpretation, and planned outputs remain grounded in lived experience and relevant to intended stakeholders. Together, these planned strategies will support the trustworthiness and transparency of the study and provide a robust foundation for the proposed qualitative exploration.
Population and Recruitment
Population
Participants were adults aged 50 and over residing in the Lothian region (Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, and Midlothian). This age group was selected because AMD and preventive eye care become increasingly relevant from midlife onwards (Wong et al., 2014). By focusing on individuals at high risk for AMD, we aim to understand barriers and enablers. These insights are crucial for developing effective interventions and guiding future studies to address eye health needs effectively. Purposive sampling was used to prioritise inclusion of individuals who may be less engaged with eye care services, helping to avoid the selection bias common in studies recruiting primarily from existing service users. Focus groups were sized at 8–12 participants to enhance the diversity of perspectives and ensure comprehensive coverage of the research topic. This range facilitates reaching data saturation, ensuring the study captures diverse viewpoints and provides a rich, thorough analysis without unnecessary redundancy.
Recruitment
Recruitment was conducted over three months using two complementary strategies: 1. Community-based recruitment involved distributing flyers across all public libraries in Lothian. This approach leverages the accessibility of libraries to reach a wide and diverse audience. It was chosen to extend beyond organisations or places where individuals are already engaged with eye care services, ensuring a broader representation of the community. 2. Digital recruitment involved a targeted Facebook paid promotion campaign with open calls for participation. This campaign focused on specific demographics and locations, ensuring coverage of both rural and urban areas within Lothian. We targeted neighbourhoods based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) to include participants from diverse socioeconomic statuses.
Participant Screening and Stratification
Interested individuals underwent a screening process involving demographic questions to assess suitability and ensure representation across socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants provided their postcode, which was mapped against the SIMD to determine area-based deprivation levels. The SIMD classifies geographic areas into deciles based on income, employment, education, and health indicators. For this study, participants residing in SIMD deciles 1-4 were classified as living in “more deprived areas,” while those in deciles 5-10 were classified as “less deprived areas.”
Area-based deprivation measures were chosen over individual-level economic indicators (such as personal income) for several reasons: (1) SIMD provides a comprehensive, validated measure that captures multiple dimensions of deprivation beyond income alone; (2) it reduces potential participant discomfort or reluctance to share sensitive personal financial information during recruitment; (3) it enables stratification while maintaining participant anonymity; and (4) area-based measures reflect the broader socioeconomic environment that influences health behaviours and service access. However, this approach has limitations, including potential misclassification of individuals whose personal circumstances differ from their area’s overall deprivation level, and inability to capture intra-area socioeconomic variation.
Sample Composition
Participants were stratified into two groups according to SIMD classification • More deprived group: 9 participants (5 male, 4 female) with 3 from urban areas and 6 from rural areas. • Less deprived group: 12 participants (7 male, 5 female) with 4 from urban areas and 7 from rural areas.
Each group participated in three separate focus group sessions, resulting in six sessions overall. The majority of participants across both groups identified as white ethnicity.
Data Collection
The study received approval from the Research Ethics Committee from the University of Edinburgh (REC Reference: 25-EMREC-032), ensuring adherence to all ethical standards. Data collection involved structured, in-person focus groups designed to explore key themes related to the study objectives. Each session was carefully planned and facilitated to promote comprehensive participant engagement while maintaining ethical integrity.
Focus groups lasted approximately two hours, with participants receiving a £50 reimbursement for their time. Six sessions were conducted (three with each SIMD group) during July and August 2025. Each session addressed distinct but complementary aims, analyzed using different theoretical frameworks: • Session 1: Experiences and Engagement with Eye Care (Andersen Behavioural Model): Examining awareness, behaviours, and trust in services to uncover barriers and facilitators to current service utilisation. • Session 2: Perceptions of Risk, Prevention, and Health Priorities (Andersen Behavioural Model): Exploring how participants conceptualise eye health and its importance relative to other health concerns, examining need factors that influence engagement. • Session 3: Responses to Preventive Eye Health Messages (Health Belief Model): Evaluating sample messages to identify which elements participants perceive as motivating or discouraging, with findings directly informing co-development of health promotion materials.
PPI Integration
Topic guides were co-developed with the SCONe PPI group, who reviewed questions to ensure accessibility, clarity, and relevance for participants. Focus group sessions were then facilitated by the chief investigator, with two PPI group members serving as co-facilitators, contributing questions and follow-up prompts throughout discussions.
Setting
All focus group sessions were conducted in person in the central campus at the University of Edinburgh, selected to provide a neutral, accessible, and comfortable environment for participants. The venue was chosen to ensure privacy and facilitate open discussion.
Consent and Recording
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants at the start of each focus group. With participants’ permission, sessions were recorded using Microsoft Teams. The platform’s built-in transcription function was enabled to generate verbatim written records of the discussions, which were subsequently checked and cleaned for accuracy before analysis.
Data Management
All qualitative data are handled in accordance with data protection regulations and University of Edinburgh policies. Audio recordings are stored securely for one week to allow manual verification of transcription accuracy, after which they are permanently deleted. Focus group transcripts are anonymised with all identifying information removed before analysis. Cleaned data are securely stored on university-approved servers and will be retained indefinitely on DataShare, the University’s secure data repository. This was approved during the ethics application to allow for the relevance of the information to be examined further in future studies, subject to appropriate governance.
Data Analysis
Analysis will employ reflexive thematic analysis using framework-guided approaches tailored to each session’s analytical purpose. This dual-framework approach enables comprehensive exploration of both current engagement patterns and potential behaviour change pathways. All focus group transcripts will be imported into NVivo for systematic analysis.
Sessions 1 and 2: Andersen Behavioural Model Analysis
Sessions 1 and 2 will be analysed using the Andersen Behavioural Model of Health Services Use (BMHSU), which frames service utilisation as the outcome of predisposing factors (demographics, health beliefs), enabling factors (resources, accessibility, affordability), and need factors (perceived and clinically evaluated health needs) operating at individual and contextual levels (Andersen & Davidson, 2001). This framework will provide systematic organisation of focus group data while remaining open to inductive themes emerging organically from participant narratives.
Following data familiarisation through repeated reading, an initial coding framework based on BMHSU categories will be developed and applied to a subset of transcripts. Simultaneously, open coding will identify emergent themes beyond the theoretical framework. Codes will be refined iteratively through constant comparison, with particular attention to how individual and structural factors interact to influence eye care behaviours.
Session 3: Health Belief Model Analysis
Session 3 data will be analysed using the Health Belief Model (HBM) to examine how participants evaluate preventive eye health messaging and which message elements might effectively promote engagement. A structured coding framework will examine seven HBM constructs: perceived susceptibility to AMD/vision loss, perceived severity of AMD/vision loss, perceived benefits of preventive action, perceived barriers to engagement, cues to action (what prompts behaviour), self-efficacy (confidence in ability to act), and modifying factors (demographic and social influences).
This analysis serves dual purposes: (1) contributing to thematic understanding of engagement patterns alongside Sessions 1-2 findings; and (2) identifying specific message elements (content, framing, tone) that participants perceive as motivating or discouraging for preventive engagement. These findings will directly inform the subsequent co-development of health promotion materials.
Cross-Session Integration and Rigour
Cross-group analysis will examine variations between socioeconomic strata (SIMD deciles 1-4 vs 5-10) to identify both universal barriers and group-specific facilitators that could inform targeted interventions. To ensure analytical rigour, a detailed audit trail will document coding decisions, code evolution, and illustrative examples. The SCONe PPI group will participate in theme validation workshops, reviewing emerging findings to ensure authentic representation of lived experiences. Member checking with consenting focus group participants may further validate the interpretive accuracy and relevance of the themes.
Co-Development Process
The qualitative findings provide rich, contextual understanding of barriers and facilitators to engage with primary eye care and for AMD prevention and early detection across Lothian. The co-development component in this research study will systematically translate these insights into actionable health promotion materials to encourage earlier engagement with primary eye care and preventive actions for eye health. The approach outlined in this protocol aims to move beyond traditional knowledge dissemination by actively involving communities in shaping how evidence is communicated, thereby addressing the persistent gap between what research discovers and what communities find relevant, trustworthy and actionable (Greenhalgh et al., 2016).
The co-development approach integrates three complementary frameworks: 1. Health Belief Model (HBM): Provides the analytical lens for Session 3 data, systematically identifying which message elements participants perceive as motivating or discouraging for preventive engagement. 2. Participatory Action Research (PAR): Provides the overarching structure, emphasising cyclical processes of reflection, planning, action, and evaluation in which all stakeholders act as active co-researchers rather than passive subjects (Baum et al., 2006). This approach is particularly effective for addressing health inequities—such as those observed in Scotland, where people from more deprived areas are less likely to access primary eye care services (The Scottish Ministers, 2006). It recognises that those who use—or do not use—eye care services in Scotland hold essential experiential knowledge about which interventions are both feasible and meaningful in their daily lives (Wallerstein & Duran, 2006). 3. Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) framework: Provides structured guidance for translating the research finding from the qualitative component from this study into practical interventions, ensuring systematic progression from knowledge creation (focus group analysis) to knowledge application (tailored messages), with the PPI group and broader stakeholders embedded throughout the action cycle (Graham et al., 2006; Straus et al., 2009).
Together, these frameworks operationalize the shift from “designing for” to “designing with” communities, with the SCONe PPI group holding leadership rather than advisory roles throughout. The HBM ensures message development is grounded in systematic understanding of behaviour change principles, while PAR and KTA ensure materials are co-created with those who will use them. Evidence demonstrates that participatory, co-designed health communications achieve superior outcomes compared to traditional expert-driven approaches, particularly in reaching underserved populations and promoting sustained behaviour change (Boote et al., 2015; Sanders & Stappers, 2008; Slattery et al., 2020). This integrated three-framework approach prioritises health equity by centring the voices of those who have used the system and have experienced the pitfalls of the system. By ensuring materials are co-created with diverse stakeholders and tested for accessibility across different literacy levels, cultural contexts, and socioeconomic circumstances, it is possible to address the social determinants of health that contribute to disparities in AMD outcomes(More et al., 2019; Umfress & Brantley, 2016; Yip et al., 2021).
Stakeholder Composition
Following the PAR framework, this project integrates stakeholders with complementary expertise through a three-tiered structure to ensure that outputs are community-driven, clinically accurate, and practically applicable. • Tier 1: Core Development Team. The SCONe PPI group (six members with lived experience of AMD) leads the entire co-development process. Their central role reflects evidence that PPI-led approaches produce more relevant and effective interventions (Brett et al., 2014; Lammons et al., 2025). The group guides all sessions, decides on message content, tone, and format, synthesises feedback from wider stakeholders, and approves final materials and dissemination strategies. • Tier 2: Clinical Validation Team. The SCONe clinical research team provides expert review at defined checkpoints to ensure medical accuracy. Their input focuses on verifying that messages align with current AMD evidence and referral pathways within NHS Lothian, while identifying potential for misinterpretation or unintended clinical consequences. This checkpoint model preserves PPI leadership while ensuring scientific rigour—recognising that clinically accurate messages must also be trusted and actionable within communities (Greenhalgh et al., 2016) • Tier 3: Validation Workshop Stakeholders. A broader stakeholder group (15–25 participants) will take part in a single online workshop to refine draft messages. Participants will include NHS eye care professionals, third-sector representatives (e.g. Sight Scotland, Macular Society Scotland, RNIB Scotland, Diabetes Scotland, Age Scotland), and community members. This cross-sector collaboration forms a “community of practice” where shared learning generates more comprehensive and sustainable health promotion strategies (Roussos & Fawcett, 2000; Wenger, 2000).
Implementation Pathway
The co-development process will span approximately three months, following a three-phase structure with stakeholder input integrated at key decision points. The diagram illustrates this process, and the phases are outlined below (Figure 3). Iterative co-development process led by the SCONe PPI group, resulting in tailored health messages
Phase 1: Preparation and Initial Message Development (Month 1)
The SCONe PPI group will review the thematic analysis conducted by the principal investigator to identify priority interventions and target audiences. Prioritisation will consider factors such as magnitude, severity, feasibility, and strategic relevance, resulting in three to five key audience segments defined by demographics, barriers to care, and engagement with eye health services. Based on these insights, initial draft messages will be developed and kept flexible for refinement through stakeholder input in later phases. An iterative feedback loop with the SCONe clinical team will ensure ongoing alignment and accuracy.
Phase 2: Multi-Stakeholder Co-Creation Workshop (Month 2)
A single 1.5-hour online workshop will bring together all three stakeholder tiers (15–25 participants) to collaboratively refine the draft materials developed in Phase 1. Participants will receive pre-workshop materials, including focus group insights and preliminary message drafts, along with a short survey to gather initial feedback. Using the World Café methodology (Brown & Isaacs, 2005), participants will rotate through mixed stakeholder groups, each focusing on a specific target audience. Discussions will address message clarity, tone, and accessibility across three structured rounds. Members of the SCONe PPI group will act as co-facilitators, guiding discussions and recording key points from each group discussion. Following the roundtable sessions, participants will use dot-voting to prioritise message options and identify areas requiring further refinement. A brief post-workshop survey will remain open for one week to capture any additional reflections. Workshop outputs will include refined and co-created message content ready for testing in Phase 3.
Phase 3: Refinement and Finalization (Month 3)
The PPI group synthesizes all workshop input using consensual decision-making, refining draft messages while preserving the authentic community voice established during the focus groups. A final clinical review will confirm the accuracy of all content, ensuring refinements have not introduced inconsistencies. Iterative exchanges between the PPI and clinical teams will continue until consensus is reached. The outcome will be a set of approved, community-informed health promotion messages tailored to each target audience.
Conclusions
This study addresses a critical gap in understanding how structural and behavioural factors shape engagement with preventive eye care for AMD, particularly among socioeconomically deprived communities. While technological advances in early detection continue to progress, these innovations alone cannot ensure equitable uptake or address persistent health inequalities. Insights into this gap were made possible through the SCONe project’s meaningful collaboration with public contributors, demonstrating that active, lived-experience-led involvement is essential for identifying real-world barriers and shaping research priorities. This protocol exemplifies how embedding PPIE throughout the research process can inform the design, implementation, and interpretation of studies aimed at promoting preventive behaviours and reducing inequities. By systematically exploring barriers and enablers to eye care engagement and co-developing tailored health messages with public contributors, this study aims to generate evidence-based strategies that support earlier detection of AMD, enhance preventive care, and advance equitable community engagement in eye health.
Supplemental Material
Supplemental Material - A PPIE-Informed Protocol to Improve Public Engagement With Preventive Eye Care in Lothian, Scotland
Supplemental Material for A PPIE-Informed Protocol to Improve Public Engagement With Preventive Eye Care in Lothian, Scotland by Ana Paula Rubio, Tracy Jackson, Zurriyat Naqvi, Alicia Falconer, Claire Tochel, Baljean Dhillon, Niall Strang, Jaime Garcia-Iglesias, Miguel O. Bernabeu in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Supplemental Material
Supplemental Material - A PPIE-Informed Protocol to Improve Public Engagement With Preventive Eye Care in Lothian, Scotland
Supplemental Material for A PPIE-Informed Protocol to Improve Public Engagement With Preventive Eye Care in Lothian, Scotland by Ana Paula Rubio, Tracy Jackson, Zurriyat Naqvi, Alicia Falconer, Claire Tochel, Baljean Dhillon, Niall Strang, Jaime Garcia-Iglesias, Miguel O. Bernabeu in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Supplemental Material
Supplemental Material - A PPIE-Informed Protocol to Improve Public Engagement With Preventive Eye Care in Lothian, Scotland
Supplemental Material for A PPIE-Informed Protocol to Improve Public Engagement With Preventive Eye Care in Lothian, Scotland by Ana Paula Rubio, Tracy Jackson, Zurriyat Naqvi, Alicia Falconer, Claire Tochel, Baljean Dhillon, Niall Strang, Jaime Garcia-Iglesias, Miguel O. Bernabeu in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Footnotes
Acknowledgements
We are extremely grateful to the work and support thought this ongoing work with the patients and the public members who participated to generate this piece of work. Janice Bortwhich, Janet Saunder, John Nicholls, Jannette Dunn, Libby Cameron.
ORCID iDs
Ethical Considerations
The study received approval from the Research Ethics Committee from the University of Edinburgh (REC Reference: 25-EMREC-032).
Consent to Participate
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their involvement in focus group discussions.
Consent for Publication
Participants were informed during the consent process that anonymized data would be published as part of the research findings. All participants provided written consent understanding that their responses would be used in academic publications, with all identifying information removed to ensure confidentiality.
Funding
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Chief Scientist Office, TCS/24/15, NHS Lothian Charity, 07425, Fight for Sight UK, RESSTR2301, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, GA-02328 and GA-02771, Sight Scotland, Neurii initiative (a partnership among Eisai Co., Ltd, LifeArc, and HDR UK).
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Data Availability Statement
Data generated from this study will be stored securely in accordance with the approved Data Management Plan (Version 2.0, dated 03/06/2025) and Data Protection Impact Assessment (Version 2.0, dated 03/06/2025). Anonymised data will be deposited in DataShare, the University of Edinburgh’s secure research data repository, following completion of the study. Data access requests can be made to the corresponding author and will be considered in accordance with ethical approval conditions and data protection regulations.
Supplemental Material
Supplemental material for this article is available online.
References
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