What is iPOF?

The Improving Peer Online Forums (iPOF) project was a research project carried out by Lancaster University in collaboration with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. It was funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research. The goals of the project were to develop an in-depth understanding of how online peer mental health forums work and to use this knowledge to produce practical tools for improving the way forums are run.

iPOF used an approach to research called realist evaluation. Rather than focusing on whether or not a health intervention works, realist research tries to understand what the impacts of a health intervention are and why they happen. In realist research, these explanations are called programme theories.

The iPOF Study is now completed. We hope the website is helpful, but for further information please contact f.lobban@lancaster.ac.uk