What works when: mapping patient and stakeholder engagement methods along the ten-step continuum framework

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient and Community Engagement
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Meaningful patient engagement is crucial for patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR).
• A standardized framework and evidence-based methods are needed to guide effective patient engagement.
• Existing approaches lack a clear translation between engagement methods and research stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 'patient engagement translation table' linking evidence-based methods to a ten-step continuous engagement framework.
• To provide researchers with a practical tool for selecting appropriate patient engagement strategies.
• To enhance the meaningful involvement of patients throughout the research process.

Main Methods:

• A mixed methods research design was employed.
• Environmental scan of literature, interviews, and focus groups with PCOR stakeholders were conducted.
• A modified Delphi process with subject matter experts refined the engagement methods and framework.

Main Results:

• Identified evidence-based patient engagement methods include community partnerships, focus groups, interviews, meetings, print materials, social media, storytelling, surveys, and patient research team membership.
• These methods were mapped to a ten-step framework for continuous patient engagement.
• The 'patient engagement translation table' provides a structured approach to method selection.

Conclusions:

• The developed translation table offers a valuable resource for investigators seeking to implement meaningful patient engagement.
• It facilitates the selection of appropriate methods tailored to specific stages of the research process.
• This tool supports the integration of patient perspectives for more effective and relevant research outcomes.