title: Bringing together patient and specialists: the first Birdshot Day.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The importance of patient and public involvement (PPI) in healthcare decisions and research is increasingly recognised. This paper describes the aims, delivery, evaluation and impact of a 'Birdshot Day' organised for patients with birdshot uveitis, their carers and healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Delivery of this event involved the close collaboration of patients with a large number of different healthcare professionals. The event's evaluation used established social research methods including qualitative questionnaires pre, post and 6 months following the event. The results were statistically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that this event significantly educated both patients and professionals. The sense of isolation felt by patients was reduced and networking was developed among all attendees. Patient priorities for research were recorded and invaluable insight into patients' needs for a better quality of life was gained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first undertaking of this novel PPI event achieved all its aims. It became even clearer that fundamental questions remain about birdshot uveitis, including aetiology, pathogenesis, practical clinical issues and impact on quality of life. These questions can only be addressed in partnership with patients. To this end, patients and professionals came together under the banner 'Team Birdshot' and the National Birdshot Research Network was launched.
authors.affiliation: Medical Retina and Uveitis, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koutroumanos
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Folkard
authors.forename: Rea
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattocks
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson-Barrett
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonstein
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pavesio
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westcott
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanford
authors.forename: Catey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bunce
authors.forename: Narciss
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okhravi
mesh_terms: D000080365:Birdshot Chorioretinopathy; D002825:Chorioretinitis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires