Patients as Partners in the Hospital Setting: Engagement Methods in Research, Quality Improvement and Beyond

Benefits have been demonstrated when patients and family members have been meaningfully engaged in all stages of research beginning with topic generation. When this engagement is done well, research becomes more relevant to those receiving health services, and there is an increased sense of accountability and transparency provided. However, health informatics researchers have not consistently used patient and family member engagement methods despite their many potential benefits. This panel will outline various methods that can be used to engage patients and family members in all stages of the research process in a health informatics context. In addition to these strategies, this panel will provide real-life examples of how patients and family members have been engaged in health informatics research in both Canada and the United States.