Engaging Essential Patient Support Personnel in Research as Patient Partners: A Survey Study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Research
• Patient Engagement
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Patient engagement in research involves collaboration between patients and researchers.
• Essential patient support personnel are vulnerable and underrepresented in health and work research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore attitudes, behavioral intentions, and past engagement of essential patient support personnel in research.
• To assess skills and constraints influencing research engagement.

Main Methods:

• A survey study of 42 essential patient support personnel.
• Utilized the Integrated Model of Behavioral Prediction.
• Measured attitudes, behavioral intentions, past behavior, skills, and constraints.

Main Results:

• Personnel showed positive attitudes and intentions for research engagement, but low past engagement.
• Most positive intentions were for the preparation stage of research.
• Key constraints included lack of time, compensation, and burnout; first-hand experience was the most valued skill.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing research engagement requires skill development (e.g., study design) and removing barriers.
• Addressing time constraints, compensation, and burnout is crucial.
• Leveraging personnel's first-hand experience is vital for effective collaboration.