Ripple effects of a patient & health-system partnered engagement project: a co-developed protocol

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Team Science
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Engaging knowledge users is crucial for health services research relevance and equity.
• Existing frameworks lack longitudinal perspectives on relational dynamics like trust and equity.
• Limited evidence exists on how engagement unfolds and sustains equitable partnerships.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine the ripple effects of a long-standing researcher-knowledge user partnership.
• Identify relational and structural factors that sustain meaningful and equitable partnerships.
• Address gaps in understanding the evolution of engagement over time.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, participatory study guided by critical patient-oriented research (cPOR) principles.
• Patient and health system partners co-researchers across all study stages.
• Data collection via document analysis and surveys using the Engaging with Purpose framework; analysis via deductive-inductive content analysis and Ripple Effects Mapping (REM).

Main Results:

• Long-standing partnerships demonstrate sustained engagement through relational and structural factors.
• Ripple effects mapping visualizes impact pathways and identifies areas for continuous improvement.
• The study provides nuanced insights into building and adapting equitable partnerships over time.

Conclusions:

• Offers a novel approach to understanding long-term, project-independent research partnerships.
• Generates insights into the building, experience, and adaptation of engagement in equity-oriented partnerships.
• Provides a transferable model for embedding iterative, partner-guided improvement in sustained engagement practices.