Researchers, Policymakers, and Professionals Patient Engagement Matters.
“Working with Patient Partners has completely transformed how I approach research. Their lived experiences bring invaluable insights that make our studies more relevant, impactful, and truly patient-centered.”
Why should you involve people with lived experience and their families?
The experiences of people living with pain add depth and context to research and policy work that data alone cannot provide. By including their voices, you’ll gain a richer understanding of the everyday challenges they face and the outcomes that matter most. Whether you're designing a study, implementing a new program, or crafting health policy, the lived experience perspective ensures your work is aligned with the needs of those it aims to serve.
What does patient-oriented research look like?
Traditionally, people with lived experience have played an important role of contributing to science through being . However, patient-oriented research principles move to a more meaningful collaboration model. People living with pain and their families become partners in your project and can actively be engaged in governance, priority setting, developing research questions, performing parts of the research itself, and mobilizing the knowledge created.
For more information check out the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) page on the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR).
Resources
Not sure where to start?
Check out our resources section for helpful guidelines and templates to support your work. Whether you're new to engaging people with lived experience or looking for tools to improve your process, you'll find everything you need to get started.
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