4th EPH Pre-conference: Patient participation in health care research and innovation

In the past decades the active contribution of patients and clients to health care research and innovation has become an important theme. Their input is relevant because, if health care is to become more patient-centered, it is essential to work together with patients and clients as partners from early on.

In the 4th EPH pre-conference on the Patient perspective in Health Care, wednesday 9 November 2016 in Vienna, organised by NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research) and the National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland), we want to share research and experiences regarding patient or client participation in health care research and innovation projects (e.g. designing and implementation of interventions, organizational innovations). Key-note speakers from the Netherlands and the UK will also address these topics. 

Levels and strategies
Involving patients in research and innovation projects is likely to increase validity, feasibility and future acceptability.
However, there are several levels and strategies regarding patient participation. They vary from including individual patients as partners in the research or innovation team to organizing representative panels (e.g. NICE Citizens Council).  This leads to another kind of input and different impact on projects. Some strategies are also  more successful than others. 
Furthermore, not every person is motivated or has the skills to participate actively. This leads to inequalities in patient participation and involvement.

Abstracts
Abstracts can be submitted before May 1, 2016 through the EPH website.