Patients' Associations as Co-Creators of Knowledge: Insights From a Community-Based Participatory Research Study...

Area of Science:

• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
• Healthcare Policy and Management
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) is vital for research relevance.
• Translating PPIE principles into practical tools enhances participatory methodologies.
• This study focuses on the co-creation of ProSafe, a CBPR project in Italy exploring community views on proximity care reorganization.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe the co-creation process of the ProSafe project.
• Examine successes and challenges in fostering community-academic partnerships.
• Propose strategies and recommendations for sustained engagement in research.

Main Methods:

• Explanatory sequential mixed-method design.
• A Patient Safety Council (PSC) served as co-researcher.
• IAP2 spectrum guided analysis of power dynamics; SWOT analysis identified engagement strategies.

Main Results:

• The SWOT analysis informed the co-creation of the OPERA-PACT framework with the PSC.
• OPERA-PACT formalizes shared principles for collaborative partnerships.
• The framework includes mechanisms for continuous monitoring and feedback to sustain partnerships.

Conclusions:

• Proposed instruments and insights can strengthen community voices in research.
• The OPERA-PACT framework aids alignment with PPIE principles.
• Implementing OPERA-PACT can establish effective and sustainable research collaborations.