A rocky road but worth the drive: A longitudinal qualitative study of patient innovators and researchers cocreating research

BACKGROUND

Partnership research practices involving various stakeholder groups are gaining ground. Yet, the research community is still exploring how to effectively coproduce research together. This study describes (a) key programme developments in the creation of a 6-year partnership research programme in Sweden, and (b) explores the hopes, expectations, and experiences of patient innovators (i.e., individuals with lived experience as patients or caregivers who drive health innovations) and researchers involved in the programme during the first years.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective longitudinal qualitative study spanning the first 2 years of the programme. Data consisted of meeting protocols and interviews with 14 researchers and 6 patient innovators; 39 interviews were carried out in three evenly-spaced rounds. We identified significant events and discussion themes in the meeting protocols and analyzed the interviews using thematic analysis, applying a cross-sectional recurrent approach to track changes over time.

FINDINGS

Meeting protocols revealed how several partnership practices (e.g., programme management team, task forces, role description document) were cocreated, supporting the sharing of power and responsibilities among programme members. Based on the analysis of interviews, we created three themes: (1) paving the path to a better tomorrow, reflecting programme members' high expectations; (2) going on a road trip together, reflecting experiences of finding new roles and learning how to cocreate; (3) finding the tempo: from talking to doing, reflecting experiences of managing challenges and becoming productive as a team.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that sharing, respecting, and acknowledging each other's experiences and concerns helps build mutual trust and shape partnership practices. High expectations beyond research productivity suggest that we need to consider outcomes at different levels, from the individual to society, when evaluating the impact of partnership research.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The research team included members with formal experiences as researchers and members with lived experiences of being a patient or informal caregiver. One patient innovator coauthored this paper and contributed to all aspects of the research, including the design of the study; production of data (as interviewee); interpretation of findings; and drafting the manuscript.

Patients' experiences of Daily Talks: a patient-driven intervention in inpatient mental healthcare

BACKGROUND

Recovery is known to be enhanced by meaningful interactions between patients and mental health staff. However, nurses may become distanced from patients, and patients may spend most of their time in inpatient mental health care alone.

AIMS

This study aimed to explore how patients experience the intervention Daily Talks, a patient-driven innovation intended to enhance meaningful interactions between patients and staff.

METHODS

Fourteen in-depth interviews were performed with patients who participated in Daily Talks. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The results of the participants' experiences of Daily Talks are presented in four themes: 1.Interpersonal and active interaction where individual factors matter 2.A patient-controlled space 3.A multi-use intervention and 4.A part of the daily healthcare structure. Participants stated that Daily Talks improved the relationship between patients and their nursing staff, and they stressed the importance of patients having control over both time and content in the Daily Talks. Daily Talks was used to vent emotions and thoughts, handle situations and create strategies, and become part of a helpful structure.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the value of Daily Talks, indicating that Daily Talks may facilitate helpful structures and meaningful relationships between patients and nursing staff.