Plain English summaryFoundations in Patient-Oriented Research is a course designed and piloted in Canada to help patients, researchers, health care professionals and health system decision-makers gain an introductory understanding of patient-oriented research, the research enterprise, and how to work in a team. The course curriculum was co-developed by a diverse group of people with different lived experiences and relevant expertise. The course is meant to be delivered in a ‘co-learning format’ with classes comprised of all the above stakeholder groups learning together. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of the project leaders, developers, facilitators and patient co-facilitators who were involved in the process of co-developing, piloting and revising the curriculum.Our findings suggest that co-developing a patient-oriented research curriculum increases its quality, uptake and credibility. The co-development process not only resulted in training that benefited the target learners, but it provided valuable learning experiences about patient-oriented research for the project leaders, developers, facilitators and patient co-facilitators. These findings and the resulting recommendations may provide guidance for other learning and development groups wishing to undertake a similar project.Abstract Background Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research is a course designed and piloted in Canada to build mutually beneficial relationships for conducting patient-oriented research by ensuring that relevant stakeholders – patients, researchers, health care professionals and health system decision-makers – have a common foundational understanding of patient-oriented research, the research enterprise, and team dynamics. The curriculum was co-developed by a group of patients, researchers, patient engagement experts and curriculum development experts and involved consultations with broader groups of the relevant stakeholders mentioned above. It was designed to be delivered in a ‘co-learning format’ with classes comprised of all stakeholder groups learning together. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of individuals involved in the process of co-developing, piloting and revising Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research. Methods An embedded case study was conducted with individuals who were involved in the co-development, pilot and revision of Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research. These individuals took on different roles during the curriculum development process, including project co-lead, developer, facilitator, and patient co-facilitator. The constant comparison method was used to inductively develop themes from the two focus group sessions. Results Discussions from the focus groups revealed the value of co-building the content, co-facilitating the course sessions, and the importance of the co-learning format. The training itself was perceived as valuable and the systematic approach to co-development was perceived as a success. Several barriers were identified, including the amount of...

Improving health and health services requires both better knowledge (a key function of research) and better action to adapt and use what is already known (quality improvement). However, organizational and cultural divides between academic research institutions and health system organizations too often result in missed opportunities to integrate research and improvement. The Saskatchewan Health Quality Council's experience and relationships, from linking research, quality improvement and patient engagement in its leadership of the province's healthcare quality improvement journey, provided core support and leadership in the development of Saskatchewan's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT Unit. The vision is for the SUPPORT Unit to integrate research and quality improvement into a continuous learning health system. Résumé L'amélioration de la santé et des services de santé exige à la fois une meilleure connaissance (la fonction primaire de la recherche) et une meilleure action pour adapter et utiliser ce que l'on sait déjà (amélioration de la qualité). Cependant, les clivages organisationnels et culturels entre les instituts de recherche universitaires et les organismes du système de santé sont trop souvent responsables de rendezvous manqués entre la recherche et l'amélioration. L'expérience et les relations du Saskatchewan Health Quality Council (pour l'établissement de liens entre la recherche, l'amélioration de la qualité et l'engagement du patient en vue d'orienter le processus d'amélioration de la qualité des soins de santé de la province) ont fourni un soutien et un leadership essentiels au développement de l'unité SOUTIEN de la Stratégie de recherche axée sur le patient de la Saskatchewan. L'objectif que poursuit l'unité SOUTIEN est d'intégrer la recherche et l'amélioration de la qualité à un système de santé apprenant.

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Aims During this presentation we will share learning from a Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowship. We will present examples of artsbased public involvement activities, including a sculpture project with young people and a play about dementia. We aim to raise awareness of what public involvement can gain from the arts; stimulate discussion about the pros and cons of different approaches; and discuss how to encourage more creativity within public involvement. Why is it important and to whom? Public involvement has been criticised for a lack of diversity and inclusivity. By diversifying the involvement activities which we offer, we may attract a wider variety of people. Arts based activities also have the potential to facilitate discussion in an accessible, safe and fun way. This session may be of particular interest to people who are planning or facilitating public involvement activities (members of the public and researchers). What difference has, or could, this project make? Throughout the project, both researchers and members of the public have found arts activities stimulating and useful. However people have encountered some practical challenges when running these projects. Specifically, people do not feel they have the necessary skills to plan and facilitate arts activities. I will discuss how we might address that skills gap and invite the audience to suggest what support is needed. What will people take away from session? An understanding of what arts/health collaborations can offer public involvement Access to resources and contacts to support future projects Acknowledgments This work is funded by the Wellcome Trust

The philosophy of patient- and family-centred care is widely being adopted in Canada. Critical to this philosophy is the engagement of patients and families as full partners in healthcare. Saskatchewan has successfully adopted a provincial policy that eliminates restrictive visiting hours in hospitals and other healthcare facilities that support partnership with patients and families. This article explains the key role that patient and family advisors played in identifying the need for change and co-creating the implemented Open Family Presence Policy in Saskatchewan. The article outlines the system model, method and audit process that supported the policy implementation.