Patient engagement is a relatively new way of conducting research in Canada and many researchers are probably still wondering how to do it well. Dr. Simon Hatcher and his team at the Ottawa Hospital developed a graphic novel style tip sheet, “Top 10 Recommendations for Researchers Working with Lived Experience Partners“.

The comic was created by people with lived experience of suicide at the REFLECT research forum which brought together patients and caregivers as well as suicide prevention researchers, trainees and policy-makers.

The top 10 recommendations are:

  1. Use common and clear language
  2. Allow for customization to patient partner’s needs. Be flexible.
  3. Be authentic in the approach to patient-oriented research. Avoid tokenism.
  4. Define roles. Invite and acknowledge everyone’s contributions.
  5. Balance power dynamics.
  6. Invite patient partners to do more than what they are recruited for.
  7. Compensate fairly and as a matter of course. Reimburse expenses.
  8. Build relationships through honesty and trust.
  9. Ensure governance through integrity and accountability.
  10. Establish and encourage continuous communication and feedback.