Embedding Lived Expertise into Military and Veteran Medical Research

Area of Science:

• Military and Veterans Health
• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Military and Veterans health research has advanced analytically but lacks formal structures for lived experience integration.
• Current engagement models, like community advisory boards, often involve stakeholders after key research decisions are made.
• Caregivers, crucial for recovery (e.g., TBI, PTSD), are underrepresented in research design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine structural limitations in current military and Veterans health research engagement processes.
• To propose a novel Patient-Researcher model for more effective integration of lived experiences.
• To highlight the benefits of upstream, sustained engagement and mentorship.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of current engagement structures in military and Veterans health research.
• Drawing on perspectives from Veterans, Caregivers, and academic partners.
• Conceptualizing a Patient-Researcher model with upstream integration and mentorship.

Main Results:

• Existing engagement processes limit meaningful influence of lived experiences on research topics, hypotheses, and methods.
• Caregivers are particularly marginalized despite their vital role in long-term recovery.
• A Patient-Researcher model offers a framework for deeper, earlier involvement.

Conclusions:

• Integrating individuals with lived experiences (Veterans, Caregivers) upstream strengthens research validity and translational relevance.
• The proposed Patient-Researcher model enhances alignment of research with military and Veteran life realities.
• Formalizing mentorship and sustained engagement is key to effective patient-researcher partnerships.