Establishing a standing patient advisory board in family practice research: A qualitative evaluation from patients' and researchers' perspectives

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jennifer Engler - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Fabian Engler - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Meike Gerber - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Franziska Brosse - , Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus (Author)
  • Karen Voigt - , Department of internal Medicine 3 (Author)
  • Karola Mergenthal - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)

Abstract

Introduction
Patient and public involvement is vital for high-quality research. Integrating patients' and providers' perspectives early in research enhances the feasibility and relevance of study results. Within our family practice-based research network ForN, we established a standing patient advisory board (PAB) to include patients with diverse conditions and experiences. In this paper, we aim to describe the establishment and functioning of a standing PAB in family medicine research from patients' and researchers' perspectives.

Methods
After each PAB meeting, patients and researchers were asked to name anonymously positive and challenging moments in a feedback form with open questions. Researchers were also asked to reflect on how they implemented the discussion content in their research projects. The responses from both groups were transferred to MAXQDA 2018 and analyzed separately using thematic analysis.

Results
We analyzed 40 feedback forms from patients and 14 feedback forms from researchers. The dominant theme in the patients' feedback was ‘exchange’: They positively emphasized the ‘exciting and open discussions’ and the exchange of perspectives with one another and researchers. The clarity of the researchers' presentations and the research topics were appreciated. Researchers also positively highlighted the open atmosphere of the discussions. Presenting their research to the PAB helped most researchers reflect on their research topics from patients' perspectives and implement changes. However, researchers also mentioned several barriers to the implementation of PAB members’ feedback.

Conclusion
The establishment of a standing PAB in family practice research is feasible and productive both from patients' and researchers' perspectives.

Patient or Public Contribution
This study reports the evaluation of the establishment of a standing PAB in family practice research. Board members are involved in the design of studies, the co-production of interventions and information material, and the interpretation of data.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere14094
JournalHealth expectations
Volume27
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38881096
Scopus 85196074300
ORCID /0009-0007-6620-3782/work/162348832

Keywords

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Keywords

  • Research Personnel, Family Practice, Humans, Patient Participation, Middle Aged, Male, Female, Adult, Qualitative Research, Advisory Committees