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Lookup NU author(s): Laura Watson, Professor Linda SharpORCiD, David Hamilton, Dr Joanne Patterson
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2026. Background: Laryngectomy is complete surgical removal of the voice-box, resulting in permanent and life-changing functional and physical alterations for people and their families. There are approximately 460 people who have a laryngectomy every year in England. After laryngectomy people need ongoing support at home following hospital discharge. However, community-based healthcare professionals often lack specialist laryngectomy skills and have limited access to laryngectomy education or training. Current education and training resources for community-based professionals are difficult to navigate and there is lack of consistency in the quality and content of the information provided. Main body: To begin to address this gap, we brought together people with a laryngectomy, healthcare professionals, a designer and creative agency, to develop a ‘back to basics’ animation and infographic for laryngectomy. We report the outline of the concept and iterative, collaborative, development of the animation, as well as personal reflections from key stakeholders involved in the project. The future direction and use of the animation and infographic is also explored. Conclusion: This project demonstrates value of collaborative working in the development of an animation and infographic; the basis of the idea being born out of identified gaps in the research. Moving forward, the animation and infographic will be used in co design workshops to shape a community focused education and training package for healthcare professionals supporting people with a laryngectomy. Following this, the animation and infographic will be shared more broadly with healthcare professionals, individuals living with a laryngectomy, and the wider public. These resources have the potential to enhance clinical practice, empower people living with a laryngectomy with clear and accessible information, and raise awareness within the community. Ultimately, this work aims to support more informed, confident, and compassionate care for those living with a laryngectomy.
Author(s): Watson L-J, Wadey W, Babb M, Risi D, Waterston D, Barrass S, Sharp L, Hamilton DW, Thornton V, Patterson JM
Publication type: Note
Publication status: Published
Journal: Research Involvement and Engagement
Year: 2026
Volume: 12
Online publication date: 03/06/2026
Acceptance date: 05/03/2026
ISSN (electronic): 2056-7529
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-026-00865-w
DOI: 10.1186/s40900-026-00865-w
Data Access Statement: Animation and infographic will be available upon completion of Laura-Jayne Watson's current research funding via the NIHR.
