The Benefits of Patient Involvement for Translational Research

What should we be studying? Research priorities according to women and gender-diverse individuals with sexual interest/arousal disorder and their partners

BACKGROUND

Sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD) is one of the most common sexual problems for women. In clinical research, there are often misalignments between the research priorities of patients and researchers, which can negatively impact care, and gender-diverse individuals are often excluded from research. Inclusion of patient perspectives when establishing research priorities may help to reduce these gaps; however, the research priorities of couples coping with SIAD remain unclear.

AIM

Identify the research priorities of women and gender-diverse individuals with SIAD and their partners.

METHODS

In an online survey, couples coping with SIAD provided consent and responded to an open-ended question asking them to list the top 3 things they think are important for researchers to focus on related to couples coping with low sexual desire. A team-based content analysis was conducted to identify themes and their frequency of endorsement.

OUTCOMES

An author-developed open-ended question.

RESULTS

Analysis of 1279 responses (n = 667 from women and gender-diverse individuals with SIAD, n = 612 from partners) resulted in our identification of 6 main themes: general causes, general treatment and coping, biophysiological, relationship, psychological, and environmental/contextual. Additionally, we identified 4 sub-themes within each of the latter 4 main themes: general, cause, treatment, and impact. For women and gender-diverse individuals with SIAD, their partners, and specifically gender-diverse participants, the 3 most endorsed themes were psychological general factors (24.3%, 21.2%, 24.3%; eg, stress and the link between SIAD and anxiety), relationship general factors (15.7%, 13.2%, 18.6%; eg, relationship length and communication on sexual desire), and biophysiological general factors (12.3%, 12.4%, 14.3%; eg, research on medications and hormones).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Clinical researchers should consider the research priorities of couples coping with SIAD to ensure their work aligns with the needs of the affected population.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

This study is the first to identify the research priorities of both women and gender-diverse individuals with SIAD and their partners. Most participants identified as heterosexual, North American, and of middle to high socioeconomic status; results may not generalize. Responses were sometimes brief and/or vague; interpretation of these responses was therefore limited and may have required more contextual information.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that women and gender-diverse individuals with SIAD, their partners, and gender-diverse participants have similar research priorities that are consistent with a biopsychosocial approach to research. Heterogeneity of responses across themes supports a multidisciplinary, patient-oriented approach to SIAD research.

User Preferences and Needs for Health Data Collection Using Research Electronic Data Capture: Survey Study

BACKGROUND

Self-administered web-based questionnaires are widely used to collect health data from patients and clinical research participants. REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture; Vanderbilt University) is a global, secure web application for building and managing electronic data capture. Unfortunately, stakeholder needs and preferences of electronic data collection via REDCap have rarely been studied.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to survey REDCap researchers and administrators to assess their experience with REDCap, especially their perspectives on the advantages, challenges, and suggestions for the enhancement of REDCap as a data collection tool.

METHODS

We conducted a web-based survey with representatives of REDCap member organizations in the United States. The survey captured information on respondent demographics, quality of patient-reported data collected via REDCap, patient experience of data collection with REDCap, and open-ended questions focusing on the advantages, challenges, and suggestions to enhance REDCap's data collection experience. Descriptive and inferential analysis measures were used to analyze quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses focusing on the advantages, disadvantages, and enhancements in data collection experience.

RESULTS

A total of 207 respondents completed the survey. Respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the data collected via REDCap are accurate (188/207, 90.8%), reliable (182/207, 87.9%), and complete (166/207, 80.2%). More than half of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that patients find REDCap easy to use (165/207, 79.7%), could successfully complete tasks without help (151/207, 72.9%), and could do so in a timely manner (163/207, 78.7%). Thematic analysis of open-ended responses yielded 8 major themes: survey development, user experience, survey distribution, survey results, training and support, technology, security, and platform features. The user experience category included more than half of the advantage codes (307/594, 51.7% of codes); meanwhile, respondents reported higher challenges in survey development (169/516, 32.8% of codes), also suggesting the highest enhancement suggestions for the category (162/439, 36.9% of codes).

CONCLUSIONS

Respondents indicated that REDCap is a valued, low-cost, secure resource for clinical research data collection. REDCap's data collection experience was generally positive among clinical research and care staff members and patients. However, with the advancements in data collection technologies and the availability of modern, intuitive, and mobile-friendly data collection interfaces, there is a critical opportunity to enhance the REDCap experience to meet the needs of researchers and patients.

The impact of clinical and translational research on the quality of life during the metastatic colorectal cancer patient journey

The journey of metastatic colorectal cancer patients is complex and challenging, requiring coordination and collaboration between multiple healthcare providers. Understanding patients' needs, fears, feelings, concerns, and behaviors is essential for providing individualized patient-centered care. In recent years, mCRC patients have experienced improvements in clinical outcomes, from 16 months of overall survival to 32 months, thanks to research. However, there is still room for improvement, and integrating clinical and translational research into routine practice can help patients benefit from treatments and techniques that would not be an option. In the Journey of mCRC patients, living well with cancer and quality of life becomes a priority given the outcomes of the disease. Patient reported outcomes (PRO) and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are becoming therefore new estimands in Oncology. Patient advocates represent important figures in this process by prioritizing issues and research questions; evaluating research designs and the performance of the research; the analysis and interpretation of data; and how results are disseminated. Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards and shared decision-making is essential for designing treatment strategies for individual patients. Quality of Life is often prioritized only when it comes to refractory advanced disease and end-of-life care, but it has to be integrated from the beginning, as the emotional impact of diagnosis leads to a vulnerable situation where patients' needs and preferences can be easily overseen. First-line treatment will be chosen among more treatment options than subsequent lines, with longer progression-free survival and a bigger impact on the outcomes. Practicing patient-centered care and optimizing first-line treatment for colorectal cancer patients requires a comprehensive understanding of patient experience and treatment outcomes, which can guide clinical practice and inform regulatory decisions for the benefit of patients.

Awe and anxiety for cancer cells: connecting scientists and patients in a holistic approach of metastasis research

BACKGROUND

Metastatic cancer is often experienced by patients as a death sentence. At the same time, translational scientists approach metastasis also as an interesting phenomenon that they try to understand and prevent. These two sides of the same coin do not mask the considerable gap that exists between the laboratory world of scientists and the life world of patients. Funding agencies nowadays increasingly demand researchers to be responsive to the values and priorities of patients and public. One approach to bridge this gap and to increase the impact of science is patient and public involvement (PPI). A concise literature review of PPI research and practice in this paper revealed that although PPI is often deployed in translational health care research, its methodology is not settled, it is not sufficiently emancipatory, and its implementation in basic and translational science is lagging behind. Here, we illustrate the practical implementation of PPI in basic and translational science, namely in the context of HOUDINI, a multidisciplinary network with the ultimate goal to improve the management of metastatic disease.

METHODS

This paper reports on a societal workshop that was organized to launch the holistic PPI approach of HOUDINI. During this workshop, societal partners, patients, and physicians discussed societal issues regarding cancer metastasis, and contributed to prioritization of research objectives for HOUDINI. In a later stage, the workshop results were discussed with scientists from the network to critically review its research strategy and objectives.

RESULTS

Workshop participants chose the development of metastasis prediction tools, effective therapies which preserve good quality of life, and non-invasive tissue sampling methods as most important research objectives for HOUDINI. Importantly, during the discussions, mutual understanding about issues like economic feasibility of novel therapies, patient anxiety for metastases, and clear communication between stakeholders was further increased.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the PPI workshop delivered valuable early-stage input and connections for HOUDINI, and may serve as example for similar basic and translational research projects.

Real-world evidence research in metastatic colorectal cancer: raising awareness of the need for patient contributions

Real-world evidence (RWE) research helps determine whether outcomes observed in clinical trials happen in real-life clinical practice. RWE research may help patients receive more appropriate treatment, closer to their needs and wishes. RWE for metastatic colorectal cancer is currently limited. The PROMETCO RWE study is an important example of an ongoing initiative that focuses on patient-reported outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients play an active role throughout the RWE research process, including study design, participation and results dissemination. This involvement can encourage greater patient empowerment through active engagement, potentially resulting in various benefits that can lead to improved clinical outcomes. Greater patient engagement can increase involvement in RWE, helping more patients to access the benefits of RWE research. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03935763 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Research Buddy partnership in a MD-PhD program: lessons learned

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is increasing recognition of the importance of patient involvement in research. In recent years, there has also been growing interest in patient partnerships with doctoral studies students. However, it can be difficult to know where to start and how to go about such involvement activities. The purpose of this perspective piece was to share experiential insight of the experience of a patient involvement program such that others can learn from this experience. BODY: This is a co-authored perspective piece centred on the experience of MGH, a patient who has had hip replacement surgery, and DG, a medical student completing a PhD, participating in a Research Buddy partnership over the course of over 3 years. The context in which this partnership took place was also described to facilitate comparison with readers' own circumstances and contexts. DG and MGH met regularly to discuss, and work together on, various aspects of DG's PhD research project. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on reflections from DG and MGH regarding their experience in the Research Buddy program to synthesise nine lessons which were then corroborated with reference to published literature on patient involvement in research. These lessons were: learn from experience; tailor the program; get involved early; embrace uniqueness; meet regularly; build rapport; ensure mutual benefit; broad involvement; regularly reflect and review.

CONCLUSIONS

In this perspective piece, a patient and a medical student completing a PhD reflected upon their experience co-designing a Research Buddy partnership within a patient involvement program. A series of nine lessons was identified and presented to inform readers seeking to develop or enhance their own patient involvement programs. Researcher-patient rapport is foundational to all other aspects of the patient's involvement.

Patient participation in defining best-practice rheumatology service provision in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative study with service consumers

BACKGROUND

Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) has no agreed models for rheumatology service provision in government-funded health care. We aimed to describe what people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who have used rheumatology services view as being important in those services, and map these views to previously collated statements describing best practice components of rheumatology services from international recommendations. If these statements did not capture all service aspects that people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases considered important, we aimed to co-create new statements with our patient-participants.

METHODS

We conducted one focus group and an interview with people with inflammatory rheumatic disease who had used a government-funded rheumatology service in the previous 5 years (patient-participants) and analysed data using thematic analysis. The research team mapped subthemes to previously collated best practice recommendations that had been included in a Delphi consensus exercise with rheumatologists in AoNZ and proposed new statements, based on patient-participant data. Patient-participant feedback on thematic analysis and the new statements led to a refining of statements. A patient-partner in the research team informed research design and data analysis.

RESULTS

Patient-participants viewed it as highly valuable for rheumatology services to respect and value their experiences as people and patients, and those of their whānau (Māori word for family). They expected rheumatology services to provide the right care, at the right time. Many of the subthemes mapped to the best-practice statements. However, three new principles and three new statements were developed and refined by patient-participants. The three principles addressed valuing individuals, and their whānau (family) and their experiences, and providing a patient-focused health system that supports patient participation in decision-making and self-management, and patient education. New statements related to having a specific rheumatologist and other staff for comprehensive care, having adequate nurse staffing, and active provision of outside services and support.

CONCLUSION

It was important to patients that rheumatology services demonstrated that patients and their whānau (family) were valued. The inclusion of people with rheumatic diseases who are users of rheumatology services in service development can provide valuable insights to inform how services should be delivered.

Home-based and community-based activities that can improve mental wellness: a protocol for an umbrella review

INTRODUCTION

Mental disorders affect about 13% of the world's population. While evidence-based mental health treatments are available, a significant number of persons with mental illnesses are untreated or do not receive adequate mental healthcare due to various reasons, including costs, stigma and the desire to self-manage symptoms. In the past few years, there has been an increase in the body of evidence regarding leisure activities and mental wellness. However, there is currently no published overview of the state of the evidence on these activities and their potential preventive and therapeutic effects on mental health.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) review guidelines, an umbrella review will be undertaken to synthesise findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the mental health benefits of home-based and community-based activities. MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports will be searched for potentially relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses published from January 1991 to present. Title/abstract screening, full-text review, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality will each be performed independently by two reviewers. A third review author will be available to resolve discrepancies in any of the review tasks. To assess the quality of potentially eligible reviews, the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses will be used. Findings will be presented in table form and will be summarised by study population, type of home-based or community-based activity or intervention, and type of mental health outcomes. Overall assessment of the strength of existing evidence from eligible systematic reviews will be provided following the grading of recommendation, assessment, development and evaluation approach.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No ethical approval is required. Results of this umbrella review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021266989.

Patient and Family Representation in Randomized Clinical Trials Published in 3 Medical and Surgical Journals: A Systematic Review

IMPORTANCE

Patient and family engagement in research may improve the design, conduct, and dissemination of clinical research, but little is known about whether these stakeholder groups are involved in the design and conduct of randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the involvement and role of patient and family representatives in the design and conduct of randomized clinical trials by reviewing randomized clinical trials from 3 peer-reviewed medical and surgical journals with high impact factors.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

In this systematic review, the first 50 consecutive randomized clinical trials published on or after January 1, 2021, until September 30, 2021, from each of 3 medical and surgical journals with high impact factors were reviewed for patient or family involvement in trial design and/or conduct. The manuscript, supplemental data, and trial registry records were searched for trial design and governance structures. Two independent, blinded reviewers screened citations and extracted data. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

FINDINGS

Only 7 of 150 randomized clinical trials (5%) reported patient or family representation in their study design or conduct. Most studies with patient or family representation (n = 5) were from a single journal. Stakeholder involvement was mainly in the execution phase (n = 7), although in 2 studies stakeholders were also involved in the translation phase.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this systematic review suggest that patient or family involvement in the design and conduct of randomized clinical trials in the publications with high impact factors is lacking. We found that when patient or family groups are involved in research, the focus was mainly on the execution phase of research design. There is a need to increase stakeholder involvement in the research design, conduct, and translation of randomized clinical trials.

Patient Education Regarding Fasting Recommendations to Shorten Fasting Times in Patients Undergoing Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A Controlled Pilot Study

This study evaluated the applicability and efficacy of patient education regarding fasting recommendations to shorten fasting times in patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). A prospective nonrandomized controlled pilot study was performed. The intervention group (IG) was educated by nurses to eat until 6 hours and drink until 2 hours before EGD. The control group (CG) received usual care. Outcomes were applicability as perceived by patients, adherence to fasting recommendations, gastric visibility, and patients' comfort. A total of 109 patients were included of whom 42 were IG patients (37%). Patients' perspectives on fasting, their experienced discomfort, professional support, and circadian rhythm influenced application of fasting recommendations. Adherence to length of fasting from foods improved with 3:14 hours ( p < .001) and from liquids with 5:22 hours ( p < .001) in the IG compared with the CG. Gastric visibility during EGD was better in the IG than in the CG. The IG patients experienced significant less thirst, hunger, headache, and anxiety. To successfully reduce fasting times, fasting education should include positive, individual instructions, which help patients apply the fasting recommendations within their biorhythm. Positive, concrete instructions by nurses shortened fasting times before EGD, which improved gastric visibility and reduced patient discomfort.

A qualitative study on the involvement of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer during multiple research phases: "plan, structure, and discuss"

BACKGROUND

Including the lived experience of patients in research is important to improve the quality and outcomes of cancer studies. It is challenging to include adolescents and young adults (AYAs) cancer patients in studies and this accounts even more for AYAs with an uncertain and/or poor prognosis (UPCP). Little is known about involving these AYAs in scientific research. However, by including their lived experiences during multiple phases of research, the quality of the study improves and therefore also the healthcare and quality of life of this unique patient group. We first aimed to document experiences of AYAs and researchers with AYA involvement initiatives using the Involvement Matrix and the nine phases of the research cycle. Second, we aimed to map the (expected) challenges and recommendations, according to patients and researchers, for AYA involvement in each research phase.

METHODS

Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with AYAs and researchers from February 2020 to May 2020. A thematic analysis codebook with a critical realistic framework was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

AYAs and researchers were predominantly positive about AYA involvement within six of the nine phases of research: identify and prioritize topics, develop study design, disseminate information, implement, and evaluate findings. Not all respondents were positive about AYA involvement in the following three phases: formulate research questions, conduct research, and analysis and interpretation. However, few respondents had experience with AYA-researcher collaborations in multiple phases of the research cycle. Last, the results indicate the importance of adding a role (practical support) and two phases (grant application and recruitment) to the Involvement Matrix.

CONCLUSION

Our results show the added value of AYA (with a UPCP) involvement within scientific research projects. We recommend researchers to actively think about the level and phase of collaboration prior to each research project, by involving and brainstorming with AYAs at the conception and throughout research projects. Besides, to enhance fruitful participation, we suggest thoroughly discussing the pros and cons of collaboration for each phase together with AYAs via the proposed Involvement Matrix to support transparency. We recommend to report experiences, choices, and results of AYA involvement.

The social aspects of genome editing: publics as stakeholders, populations and participants in animal research

The application of genome editing to animal research connects to a wide variety of policy concerns and public conversations. We suggest focusing narrowly on public opinion of genome editing is to overlook the range of positions from which people are brought into relationships with animal research through these technologies. In this paper, we explore three key roles that publics are playing in the development of genome editing techniques applied to animals in biomedical research. First, publics are positioned by surveys and focus groups as stakeholders with opinions that matter to the development of research technologies. Learning lessons from controversies over genetically modified food in Europe, these methods are used to identify problems in science-society relations that need to be managed. Second, people are recruited into research projects through participating in biobanks and providing data, where their contributions are encouraged by appeals to the public good and maintained by public confidence. Thirdly, patients are increasingly taking positions within research governance, as lay reviewers on funding panels, where their expertise helps align research priorities and practices with public expectations of research. These plural publics do not easily aggregate into a simple or singular public opinion on genome editing. We conclude by suggesting more attention is needed to the multiple roles that different publics expect - and are expected - to play in the future development of genomic technologies.

Reviewing fair subject selection considerations for the unique case of post sequelae COVID-19 translational studies

Fair inclusion of research subjects is necessary to ensure that post-acute sequelae COVID-19 (PASC) research results benefit all members of society. Scientists should conduct research on a broad sample of individuals who represent clinically relevant factors influencing a disease. Without demographic diversity and sociological and environmental variability, research outputs are less likely to apply to different populations and would thus increase health disparities. The goal of this narrative literature review and ethical analysis is to apply fair selection criteria to PASC research studies. We briefly highlight the importance of fair subject selection in translational research and then identify features of PASC, as well as PASC research, that hinder fair inclusion of research participants. We will demonstrate that determining an adequate and representative sample is not simply a matter of ensuring greater diversity; rather, fairness requires a broader evaluation of risks, burdens, and benefits specific to underrepresented populations. We provide recommendations to ensure fair subject selection in PASC research and promote translation toward positive health outcomes for all individuals, including the most vulnerable.

Ageing with neuromuscular disease: Implications for a lifeworld-led care through a humanising approach

OBJECTIVES

To understand the care and support needs in ageing with neuromuscular disease from a patient-user perspective.

BACKGROUND

The term neuromuscular disease covers several chronic hereditary or acquired disease subtypes. In the developed countries, advances in symptoms management, technical advancements and rehabilitation initiatives have resulted in increased life expectancy for some subtypes. Life with neuromuscular disease is thus likely to continue into adulthood and old age. However, knowledge of the care and support needs of patients ageing with neuromuscular disease remains sparse.

DESIGN

Adopting a user-participatory approach embedded in a phenomenological hermeneutic tradition, we conducted two user-group discussions focusing on care and support needs in people ageing with neuromuscular disease. Twenty-five users with neuromuscular disease participated in the group discussions. Data were analysed using a three-stepped analysis method inspired by the French Philosopher Paul Ricoeur. In the analysis process, dialectical movements between a surface interpretation and an in-depth understanding occur. The COREQ checklist was used to report the study.

RESULTS

Two themes were identified; 'Changes in the sheltering relationships of life require preparation' and 'Ageing introduces a dichotomy between circumstantial normalcy and minority groupness'. An understanding of care and support needs in life with neuromuscular disease was reached revealing a need for a lifeworld-led approach.

CONCLUSION

Persons ageing with neuromuscular disease crave a fusion of disease- and age-led care and support. This fusion may be achieved through the introduction of a lifeworld-led approach to care and support.

RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Unmet care and support needs in people ageing with neuromuscular disease may result in patients experiencing fear and concern about their life situation. Healthcare professionals may play a crucial role in creating coherent lives for these persons if they understand the approach proposed herein to uncover the care and support needs in people ageing with neuromuscular disease.

Fitting places in knowledge translation: Biomedical innovation in healthcare practice

The purpose of this study is to examine and further develop knowledge translation in the context of a biomedical device industry. Studies have yet to explain how science-based innovation is first reduced to practice in development of new biomedical technologies. To understand how this occurs, I investigated research and commercial product development in the powered prosthetic arm industry from 1945 to 2020. The findings demonstrate the foundational roles of basic knowledge translation in the production of new knowledge for the powered upper limb industry, and integrated knowledge translation in hospital and clinic-based development of powered hands. The focus on a biomedical engineering industry limits the generalizability of the findings. Future research directions include examination of other cases to identify practices in embedding research projects in locations-of-use as well as virtual fitting spaces.

Current practice of stakeholder engagement: researchers' experiences in North America, DACH countries and China

Aim: To explore the current practice of stakeholder engagement in clinical trials and its evaluation in North America (USA and Canada), DACH countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and China. Participants & methods: We conducted a web-based, anonymous, international, cross-sectional online survey for clinical researchers. Data were analyzed using descriptive and explorative statistical analysis including analysis of variance and analysis of covariance. Results: Stakeholder engagement is more prominent and higher accepted among researchers in North America. Researchers in DACH countries have less knowledge of the stakeholder engagement method and are less likely to apply it. Conclusion: Stakeholder engagement is perceived very differently among participants from DACH countries, North America and China. For a broader acceptance and implementation institutional support and motivational conditions might be needed.

Co-Creation Facilitates Translational Research on Upper Limb Prosthetics

People who either use an upper limb prosthesis and/or have used services provided by a prosthetic rehabilitation centre, hereafter called users, are yet to benefit from the fast-paced growth in academic knowledge within the field of upper limb prosthetics. Crucially over the past decade, research has acknowledged the limitations of conducting laboratory-based studies for clinical translation. This has led to an increase, albeit rather small, in trials that gather real-world user data. Multi-stakeholder collaboration is critical within such trials, especially between researchers, users, and clinicians, as well as policy makers, charity representatives, and industry specialists. This paper presents a co-creation model that enables researchers to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, including users, throughout the duration of a study. This approach can lead to a transition in defining the roles of stakeholders, such as users, from participants to co-researchers. This presents a scenario whereby the boundaries between research and participation become blurred and ethical considerations may become complex. However, the time and resources that are required to conduct co-creation within academia can lead to greater impact and benefit the people that the research aims to serve.

Innovative Medical Technology and the Treatment Decision-Making Process in Multiple Sclerosis: A Focus Group Study to Examine Patient Perspectives

BACKGROUND

Disease-modifying therapies are given to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce disease progression and relapse frequency. Current modes of administration include oral, injectable and infusion therapy and the treatment decision-making process is complex. A novel mode of treatment administration, an implantable device, is currently under development, yet patient attitudes about the device are unknown. The aim of this study was 1) to understand the treatment decision-making process from the patient perspective and 2) to explore the possible acceptance of an implant to treat MS.

METHODS

Focus groups with people with MS were conducted in the Netherlands. Three topics were addressed: the treatment decision-making process, the current treatment landscape, and attitudes about the implantable device. All focus groups were recorded and transcribed and data were analyzed by raw data coding and creating themes. An online survey was conducted in the Netherlands to quantify interest in an implant.

RESULTS

Two focus group sessions were held (n=16 participants) and n=93 persons filled out the survey. The main theme that emerged was the constant uncertainty persons with MS face throughout their disease course and during treatment decisions (when to start, stop, continue or switch treatment). Patients were generally positive towards the implant but felt that efficacy and safety should be guaranteed.

CONCLUSION

People with MS want some form of control over their disease and treatment course. New medical technologies, such as an implant, may enhance the treatment landscape and with caution we postulate that it may be accepted by patients as a new mode of administration, though further research is needed. For medical technologies to be successful, patients should be engaged early on in the design process.

Relevant non-pharmacologic topics for clinical research in rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases: The patient perspective

OBJECTIVE

The research approach on rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) is challenging and patient involvement is an emerging issue to obtain relevant information to research. Despite growing interest in non-pharmacologic aspects of clinical research in RMDs, the patients' perspectives are currently poorly explored.

METHODS

A cross-sectional no-profit online survey was devised to identify and rank the priorities for clinical research in RMDs according to patients' perspectives. Patients were asked to rate the following topics: food/nutrition, air pollution, smoking, work activity, social participation, physical activity, emotional well-being/stress, alternative medicine, and patient-physician relationship. The survey was disseminated by ALOMAR (Lombard Association for Rheumatic Diseases) between June and October 2019.

RESULTS

Two hundred RMD patients completed the survey. The topic most rated 188 (94%) was the doctor-patient relationship, considered very or extremely important. Other topics rated as follows: psychological well-being 185 (92.5%), physical activity 155 (77.5%), nutrition, eating habits 150 (75%), alternative therapies 144 (72%), work activity 144 (72%), environmental pollution 134 (67%), social life 121 (60.5%) and cigarette smoke 119 (59.5%). The topics considered relevant were perceived to be able to influence disease symptoms. Environmental pollution and smoking were considered the most important for RMD prevention in 43.3% and 48.7% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey highlights the relevance of several unmet needs and indicates that active patient involvement is essential to design successful translational studies and improve clinical outcomes.

Designing a tool to support patient and public involvement in research projects: the Involvement Matrix

BACKGROUND

Interest in patient involvement in research is growing. Research should rather be 'with' or 'by' patients, and not only be 'about' or 'for' patients. Patients' active involvement in research is not self-evident and special efforts have to be made. If we make efforts towards patient involvement, it could contribute to even more relevant projects with an even greater impact. In this paper we describe the process of development of a tool to support patient involvement in research projects.

METHODS

The tool development was done in a co-creation of experience experts (patients and their parents/relatives) together with researchers. We used a participatory method in an iterative process comprising three consecutive stages. First, the purpose for the tool was explored, using focus groups. Second, the main ingredients and conceptualization for the tool were determined, using a narrative review. Third, the so-called Involvement Matrix was formalized and finalized using various expert panels.

RESULTS

A conversation tool was developed, through which researchers and patients could discuss and explain their roles of involvement in a research project. This tool was formalized and visualized as a 'matrix'. The so-called Involvement Matrix describes five roles (i.e., Listener, Co-thinker, Advisor, Partner, and Decision-maker) and three phases (i.e., Preparation, Execution, and Implementation) and includes a user's guide.

CONCLUSION

The Involvement Matrix can be used prospectively to discuss about possible roles of patients in different phases of projects, and retrospectively to discuss whether roles were carried out satisfactorily. Sharing experiences with the Involvement Matrix and evaluating its impact are the next steps in supporting patient involvement in research.

Responsible use of organoids in precision medicine: the need for active participant involvement

Organoids are three-dimensional multicellular structures grown in vitro from stem cells and which recapitulate some organ function. They are derivatives of living tissue that can be stored in biobanks for a multitude of research purposes. Biobank research on organoids derived from patients is highly promising for precision medicine, which aims to target treatment to individual patients. The dominant approach for protecting the interests of biobank participants emphasizes broad consent in combination with privacy protection and ex ante (predictive) ethics review. In this paradigm, participants are positioned as passive donors; however, organoid biobanking for precision medicine purposes raises challenges that we believe cannot be adequately addressed without more ongoing involvement of patient-participants. In this Spotlight, we argue why a shift from passive donation towards more active involvement is particularly crucial for biobank research on organoids aimed at precision medicine, and suggest some approaches appropriate to this context.

Using intervention mapping to develop an outpatient nursing nutritional intervention to improve nutritional status in undernourished patients planned for surgery

BACKGROUND

Undernutrition in surgical patients leads to a higher risk of postoperative complications like infections and delayed recovery of gastrointestinal functions, often resulting in a longer hospital stay and lower quality of life. Nurses at outpatient clinics can deliver nutritional care during outpatient preoperative evaluation of health status to ensure that patients are properly fed in preparation for hospital admission for surgery. However, nutritional nursing care was not determined in research yet. This paper describes the structural development of an Outpatient Nursing Nutritional Intervention (ONNI).

METHODS

A project group followed the steps of the Intervention Mapping. The needs assessment included assessment of delivery of nutritional care and nutritional care needs at two anaesthesia outpatient clinics of an academic and a teaching hospital. Also, outpatient clinic nurses and patients at risk for undernutrition were interviewed. Determinants resulted from these methods were matched with theories on behaviour change and nutritional support.

RESULTS

Both patients and nurses were unaware of the consequences of undernutrition, and nurses were also unaware of their roles with regard to nutritional support. The intervention goals were: 1) enabling surgical patients to improve or maintain their nutritional status before hospital admission for surgery, and 2) enabling nurses to deliver nutritional support. The ONNI was developed for outpatients at risk for or with undernutrition. A training was developed for nurses. The ONNI included the five following components: 1) identification of the causes of undernutrition; 2) provision of a nutritional care plan including general and individually tailored advice; 3) self-monitoring of nutrient intake; 4) counselling and encouragement; and 5) support during a telephone follow-up meeting. The intervention and training were tested. A multifaceted implementation strategy was used to deliver the intervention in daily practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the unique position of the nurses at outpatient clinics, nurses were unaware of their role with regard to nutritional care. The ONNI was developed and implemented along with a training program for nurses. The test confirmed that the training can improve nurses' knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility for nutritional support. The intervention may empower patients to actively improve their nutritional status.

Laying the groundwork: Building relationships for public and patient involvement in pre-clinical paediatric research

CONTEXT

Public and patient involvement is increasingly becoming an expectation of research funders and policy makers. Not all areas of health research are public-facing. Here, we outline an approach for building the skills and developing the relationships required for downstream public and patient involvement in pre-clinical adolescent rheumatology research.

OBJECTIVE

To design a methodology for improving researcher-adolescent communications specifically aimed at mutual relationship building for PPI. Deliberate and effective preparation in advance of research involvement to improve the downstream success of that involvement.

DESIGN

A research seminar and research skills workshop conducted entirely in 'plain English' for adolescents and their siblings aged 10-20. Upskilling of pre-clinical researchers for effective public involvement.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Study co-design between the voluntary charity Irish Children's Arthritis Network and the academic research centre UCD Centre for Arthritis Research. Fifteen adolescents aged 10-20 years old living with arthritis, four pre-clinical researchers and one qualitative researcher investigating adolescent or paediatric arthritis.

MAIN VARIABLES STUDIED

Relationship building and communications for effective downstream public involvement in pre-clinical and laboratory research.

RESULTS

The methodology outlined here was received extremely positively. Both researchers and adolescents living with arthritis felt more comfortable communicating, more knowledgeable about juvenile arthritis and research, and more able to engage in co-operative dialogue.

DISCUSSION

Engaging early, considering the needs of the community and developing appropriate involvement methodology can enable involvement in pre-clinical research.

CONCLUSIONS

Dedicating resources to building relationships and skills necessary for co-operative research involvement can overcome some of the barriers to public involvement in pre-clinical and laboratory-based research.

Valuing biomarker diagnostics for dementia care: enhancing the reflection of patients, their care-givers and members of the wider public

What is the value of an early (presymptomatic) diagnosis of dementia in the absence of effective treatment? There has been a lively scholarly debate over this question, but until now (future) patients have not played a large role in it. Our study supplements biomedical research into innovative diagnostics with an exlporation of its meanings and values according to (future) patients. Based on seven focusgroups with (future) patients and their care-givers, we conclude that stakeholders evaluate early diagnostics with respect to whether and how they expect it to empower their capacity to (self-) care. They value it, for instance, with respect to whether it (a) explains experienced complaints, (b) allows to start a process of psychological acceptance and social adaptation to the expected degeneration, (c) contributes to dealing with anxieties (with respect to inheritable versions of dementia), (d) informs adequately about when to start preparing for the end of life, (d) informs the planning of a request for euthanasia, or (e) allows society to deal with a growing amount of dementia patients. Our study suggests that information about disease is considered 'harmful' or 'premature' when recipients feel unable to act on that information in their (self-) care. The results of this research offers input to further ethical research. It invites to adopt a care perspective in evaluation and to seek ways to prevent the 'harm' that such diagnostic methods can bring about.

Relevant patient characteristics for estimating healthcare needs according to healthcare providers and people with type 2 diabetes: a Delphi survey

Background

Recently, there has been growing interest in providing more tailored, patient-centered care for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Yet it remains unclear which patient characteristics should be determined to guide such an approach. Therefore, the opinions of healthcare providers (HCP) and people with T2DM about relevant patient characteristics for estimating healthcare needs of people with T2DM were assessed and compared.

Methods

Two separate online Delphi studies were conducted according to the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method: one with HCPs (n = 22) from Dutch primary and secondary care and one with people with T2DM treated in Dutch primary care (n = 46). The relevance of patient characteristics for estimating healthcare needs, defined as the number of yearly consultations, was assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Characteristics with a median of 4 or 5 and an interquartile range ≤ 1.5 were considered relevant with consensus. Participants were also asked to select the top 5 of most relevant patient characteristics. To determine the overall top 5, the mean relative importance score of each characteristic was calculated.

Results

In two Delphi rounds, 28 and 15 patient characteristics were rated by HCPs and people with T2DM, respectively. Both HCPs and people with T2DM found health-related characteristics relevant for estimating healthcare needs of people with T2DM. However, HCPs preferred to estimate healthcare needs using person- and context-related characteristics. They ranked self-efficacy as the most relevant estimator. In contrast, people with T2DM were more in favor of health-related characteristics and ranked HbA1c as the most relevant estimator.

Conclusions

The findings show that there is discrepancy in opinions on relevant patient characteristics for estimating healthcare needs between HCPs and people with T2DM. To achieve more tailored, patient-centered care, it is important that both groups agree on the topics to be discussed during patient consultations.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-019-4371-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Heard and valued: the development of a model to meaningfully engage marginalized populations in health services planning

BACKGROUND

Recently, patient engagement has been identified as a promising strategy for supporting healthcare planning. However, the context and structure of universalistic, "one-size-fits-all" approaches often used for patient engagement may not enable diverse patients to participate in decision-making about programs intended to meet their needs. Specifically, standard patient engagement approaches are gender-blind and might not facilitate the engagement of those marginalized by, for example, substance use, low income, experiences of violence, homelessness, and/or mental health challenges-highly gendered health and social experiences. The project's purpose was to develop a heuristic model to assist planners to engage patients who are not traditionally included in healthcare planning.

METHODS

Using a qualitative research approach, we reviewed literature and conducted interviews with patients and healthcare planners regarding engaging marginalized populations in health services planning. From these inputs, we created a model and planning manual to assist healthcare planners to engage marginalized patients in health services planning, which we piloted in two clinical programs undergoing health services design. The findings from the pilots were used to refine the model.

RESULTS

The analysis of the interviews and literature identified power and gender as barriers to participation, and generated suggestions to support diverse populations both to attend patient engagement events and to participate meaningfully. Engaging marginalized populations cannot be reduced to a single defined process, but instead needs to be understood as an iterative process of fitting engagement methods to a particular situation. Underlying this process are principles for meaningfully engaging marginalized people in healthcare planning.

CONCLUSION

A one-size-fits-all approach to patient engagement is not appropriate given patients' diverse barriers to meaningful participation in healthcare planning. Instead, planners need a repertoire of skills and strategies to align the purpose of engagement with the capacities and needs of patient participants. Just as services need to meet diverse patients' needs, so too must patient engagement experiences.

Study design and the estimation of the size of key populations at risk of HIV: lessons from Viet Nam

BACKGROUND

Estimation of the size of populations at risk of HIV is a key activity in the surveillance of the HIV epidemic. The existing framework for considering future research needs may provide decision-makers with a basis for a fair process of deciding on the methods of the estimation of the size of key populations at risk of HIV. This study explores the extent to which stakeholders involved with population size estimation agree with this framework, and thus, the study updates the framework.

METHODS

We conducted 16 in-depth interviews with key informants from city and provincial governments, NGOs, research institutes, and the community of people at risk of HIV. Transcripts were analyzed and reviewed for significant statements pertaining to criteria. Variations and agreement around criteria were analyzed, and emerging criteria were validated against the existing framework.

RESULTS

Eleven themes emerged which are relevant to the estimation of the size of populations at risk of HIV in Viet Nam. Findings on missing criteria, inclusive participation, community perspectives and conflicting weight and direction of criteria provide insights for an improved framework for the prioritization of population size estimation methods.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the exclusion of community members from decision-making on population size estimation methods in Viet Nam may affect the validity, use, and efficiency of the evidence generated. However, a wider group of decision-makers, including community members among others, may introduce diverse definitions, weight and direction of criteria. Although findings here may not apply to every country with a transitioning economy or to every emerging epidemic, the principles of fair decision-making, value of community participation in decision-making and the expected challenges faced, merit consideration in every situation.

Patient involvement in clinical research: why, when, and how

The development of a patient-centered approach to medicine is gradually allowing more patients to be involved in their own medical decisions. However, this change is not happening at the same rate in clinical research, where research generally continues to be carried out on patients, but not with patients. This work describes the why, when, and how of more active patient participation in the research process. Specific measures are proposed to improve patient involvement in 1) setting priorities, 2) study leadership and design, 3) improved access to clinical trials, 4) preparation and oversight of the information provided to participants, 5) post-study evaluation of the patient experience, and 6) the dissemination and application of results. In order to achieve these aims, the relative emphases on the ethical principles underlying research need to be changed. The current model based on the principle of beneficence must be left behind, and one that upholds the ethical principles of autonomy and non maleficence should be embraced. There is a need to improve the level of information that patients and society as a whole have on research objectives and processes; the goal is to promote the gradual emergence of the expert patient.