Patient Engagement and Research Link for Patients

When patients share their priorities and engage throughout the research process, the outcomes can lead to positive changes in the health-care system and improve the quality of life for everyone in Saskatchewan.

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In patient-oriented research, a patient is someone who has had recent personal experience with a health issue as a patient or as an informal caregiver to a patient, such as a family member or friend.  Patients may be involved in research projects as Patient Partners or as participants. Patient Partners are equal research team members, while participants contribute to the study, but are not members of the team.

Patient Partner opportunities

Patient Partners:

• are equal members of the research team and may be engaged at any or all stages throughout the research process.
• have expertise with a health issue gained through personal lived experience or experience providing informal care for a family member or friend with the health issue.
• contribute their unique expertise as equal members on the research team, which helps ensure the research is relevant and meaningful to patients.

Patient and family members can serve a variety of roles on the research team, depending on their abilities and interests as well as the project's needs. Patient Partners can:

• identify research priorities
• advise on research approaches
• provide input on data interpretation and analysis
• help researchers write surveys that are more relevant and easier for patients to understand
• help with focus groups and interviews
• share research results with other patients and policy/decision makers.

Current Patient Partner opportunities listed here outline the time commitment required, supports available and other information relevant to patients. If you find an opportunity you would like to pursue, please express your interest by clicking the button and filling in the form.

Participant opportunities

Patient Participants are patients that contribute to research by participating in studies and providing input in specific areas, but are not members of the research team.

Participants:

• have recent patient experience with a health issue or is a friend or family member who has provided care for a patient.
• take part in the research study by sharing their knowledge through surveys or interviews.
• take part in focus groups or provide data for research projects.

Participant opportunities usually require less commitment than Patient Partner opportunities; but are still a vital part of the research process. Please review the existing opportunities and express your interest by clicking the button and filling in the form.

National opportunities

Researchers from outside our province seek input from Saskatchewan patients for patient-oriented research projects.

Patient-oriented research takes place across the country, and researchers from other provinces and territories often need input from patients in Saskatchewan. Opportunities found here support research taking place outside of our provinces while still impacting the health of Saskatchewan residents.

What research is important to you?

If you have experienced something in your health journey that has made you question the way things are done or you have an idea that could help improve our healthcare system and the quality of life for Saskatchewan people, we want to hear from you!

Patient-oriented researchers look to patients to share their personal experiences and insights into issues that could impact care and outcomes within our health-care system. By sharing your ideas, there is a chance your topic could be selected for a research project.

There are many factors that go into a research project, such as alignment of researcher expertise and grant funding opportunities. Because of these factors, some ideas may not be selected for further research. This is not a reflection of the quality or importance of your idea, but the result of insufficient resources (e.g., funding, time, expertise) to pursue the topic. Patient Engagement and Research Link (PEARL) provides an opportunity for patients to share their research ideas, whether they are selected or not, because we think it's important that patients have every opportunity to voice what's important to them.