Patient, caregiver and other knowledge user engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Patient engagement and integrated knowledge translation (iKT) processes improve health outcomes and care experiences through meaningful partnerships in consensus-building initiatives and research. Consensus-building is essential for engaging a diverse group of experienced knowledge users in co-developing and supporting a solution where none readily exists or is less optimal. Patients and caregivers provide invaluable insights for building consensus in decision-making around healthcare, policy and research. However, despite emerging evidence, patient engagement remains sparse within consensus-building initiatives. Specifically, our research has identified a lack of opportunity for youth living with chronic health conditions and their caregivers to participate in developing consensus on indicators/benchmarks for transition into adult care. To bridge this gap and inform our consensus-building approach with youth/caregivers, this scoping review will synthesise the extent of the literature on patient and other knowledge user engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Following the scoping review methodology from Joanna Briggs Institute, published literature will be searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases from inception to July 2023. Grey literature will be hand-searched. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of articles in a two-stage process, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Included studies must be consensus-building studies within the healthcare context that involve patient engagement strategies. Data from eligible studies will be extracted and charted on a standardised form. Abstracted data will be analysed quantitatively and descriptively, according to specific consensus methodologies, and patient engagement models and/or strategies.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review protocol. The review process and findings will be shared with and informed by relevant knowledge users. Dissemination of findings will also include peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. The results will offer new insights for supporting patient engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

https://osf.io/beqjr.

Pan-Canadian caregiver experiences in accessing government disability programs: A mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

At present, little is known about the factors that contribute to the relatively low uptake of government-funded disability programs in Canada.

AIM

Understand how parents/caregivers of Canadian youth with neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) experience the process of applying for and accessing disability programs.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study utilized two phases: an online survey (quantitative), followed by semi-structured interviews (qualitative). The quantitative phase gathered sociodemographic information and preliminary information about participant experiences applying for and accessing programs. The qualitative phase provided greater depth by asking participants to describe barriers and facilitators to program access.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

499 participants completed the online survey and 81 participants completed an interview. Analysis of survey data revealed that many participants are not accessing disability programs and experience difficulty when applying. Regression analyses revealed that factors relating to the process of applying and applicant/family attributes are significantly associated with program access. Inductive thematic analysis of interview data revealed four barriers and three facilitators to access. Integration of findings provided an overview of the multi-faceted journey to program access.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The results of this study highlight policy changes that are needed to ensure disability programs adequately support Canadian families.

Acceptability of employment readiness measures in youth and young adults on the autism spectrum: a mixed-methods study

PURPOSE

Reliable, valid, and pragmatic measures are essential for monitoring and evaluating employment readiness and comparing the effectiveness of alternative implementation strategies. The Work Readiness Inventory (WRI) and Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA) are valid measures of employment readiness in neurotypical populations; however, their acceptability (i.e., user perception of measure as agreeable/satisfactory) for persons on the autism spectrum is not yet known. This investigation assesses the acceptability of the WRI and a modified ACLSA (ACLSA-M) in measuring employment readiness in youth/young adults on the spectrum.

METHODS

A concurrent triangulation mixed-methods study design utilizing quantitative pre-post measurement of a community-based employment readiness program alongside qualitative survey assessment was employed to determine concurrent acceptability. For robustness, further explication through peer debriefing of experts evaluated the retrospective acceptability via interview and acceptability-rate assessment.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that both measures are acceptable, although individual- and job-specific item modifications are advised, particularly due to disability-specific needs. Significant change in employment readiness in youth/young adults on the spectrum supports concurrent acceptability. Peer debriefing provided rich data on retrospective acceptability. Acceptability-rates of 0.84 and 0.91 confirm broad acceptability of these measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Implications are presented for clinicians and researchers, highlighting the relevance for autism-specific measurement development and acceptability.Implications for rehabilitationGiven the lower labor force participation of persons on the autism spectrum, a combination of measures should be used in the assessment of an individual's employment readiness.In youth and young adults on the spectrum, employment readiness can be measured using the Work Readiness Inventory (WRI) and a modified version of the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA-M).In clinical practice and research, modifying the contents of these measures may be advised to minimize language complexity, and maximize ease in self report.When designing, developing, and testing new measures in rehabilitation practice or research, the intent should be broadened by involving diverse representation from the project outset, by engaging both those on the spectrum and neurotypical populations.