Patient partner perspectives on compensation: Insights from the Canadian Patient Partner Survey

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Patient partners play an increasing role in Canadian health systems.
• Compensation for patient partners is not standardized, varying in type and amount.
• Understanding patient partners' views on compensation is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe compensation types and frequency offered to patient partners.
• To explore patient partners' attitudes towards compensation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Canadian Patient Partner Study (CPPS) survey.
• Survey included questions on compensation offered, refusal, and adequacy.
• Analyzed quantitative data with frequencies and qualitative data via inductive content analysis.

Main Results:

• Most patient partners were rarely offered salary, honorarium, or gifts; half received conference expenses.
• 26% refused compensation; half felt adequately compensated only sometimes, rarely, or never.
• Attitudes towards compensation were influenced by role perception, giving back, acknowledgement, practicalities, fairness, and accountability.

Conclusions:

• Compensation for patient partners in Canada remains unsystematized.
• Half of patient partners frequently feel inadequately compensated.
• Organizations must implement clear, transparent compensation practices sensitive to patient partners' contexts and diverse views.