Matt Larsen1,3, Pam Leblanc2, Ted Reckman3, Lucie Vaillancourt3, Jan-Willem Westra3, David Campbell2,4,5
1) Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 2) Department of Medicine, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 3) TIMED Patient Partner Council. 4) Department of Cardiac Sciences, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 5) Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Background: Patient-oriented research is becoming increasingly valued by the scientific community and a plan for engaging those with lived experience is often a requirement of grant funding organizations. Individuals living with a condition can provide critical feedback on the feasibility of treatment options, identify potential barriers to adherence, and offer insights on ways to translate knowledge to those most affected by the research. When their lived experience is viewed as a form of expertise, patient partners can help scientists discover actionable and realistic solutions that have practical implications in peoples’ lives.
Methods: Patient partners (n=4) living with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes were recruited to participate in the TIMED consortium, a research initiative with a focus on the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes through timed health behaviours.
Results: Since September 2021 patient partners have attended 26 out of 29 TIMED consortium meetings, maintaining an attendance rate of 90%. Patient partners have spent over 200 hours (n=203) attending scientific presentations at TIMED consortium meetings, providing feedback on research projects, constructing knowledge mobilization plans, reviewing and editing interview guides, and aiding in the coding and analysis of interview transcripts.
Conclusion: Timing of health behaviours has been shown to be an important consideration for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. However, these need to be adopted and implemented in peoples’ lives for them to be effective. Engaging the lived experience of patient partners within the scientific research from the TIMED consortium has increased the applicability of study findings.