Andy
Retired committee member
ABSTRACT
Background: Health technology has increasingly moved toward adopting a "user-centred design" approach to include the user/patient throughout the innovation and design process; however, few studies have evaluated the patient's experience of such an engagement.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the role of patient engagement (PE) within e-health innovation research.
Method: Using qualitative descriptive methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants (patient partners and research/development team members).
Findings: Key themes were centred on enablers of, challenges to and methods of improving PE.
Conclusion: PE must be prioritized from study conception, explicitly programmed into study conduct and valued by integrating patient partner input.
Key Points
Background: Health technology has increasingly moved toward adopting a "user-centred design" approach to include the user/patient throughout the innovation and design process; however, few studies have evaluated the patient's experience of such an engagement.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the role of patient engagement (PE) within e-health innovation research.
Method: Using qualitative descriptive methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants (patient partners and research/development team members).
Findings: Key themes were centred on enablers of, challenges to and methods of improving PE.
Conclusion: PE must be prioritized from study conception, explicitly programmed into study conduct and valued by integrating patient partner input.
Key Points
- This study provided a multi-stakeholder perspective on patient engagement (PE), revealing that stakeholders’ perspectives differed and must be considered separately when planning for engagement.
- This study identified strategies to improve PE during the development of an e-health tool, including providing support
for patients throughout the process, ensuring thorough team communication, making patients feel valued for their contributions and fostering a positive research environment. - Overall, PE helped ensure the relevance, usability and appropriateness of an e-health tool for different patient demographics; however, the process of PE should pay special attention to recruiting representative patient populations.