Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
A patient partner is named co-investigator on a grant and helps interpret qualitative interview data.
- Is an instance
Patient partners are paid at a documented per-hour rate aligned with researcher pay scales.
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
A patient partner listed in a grant application with no contractual or time commitment.
- Not an instance
Token participation: a patient consulted once at study start with no further engagement.
Editorial commentary
Patient partners differ from research subjects: they contribute lived experience, perspectives and expertise to research design, conduct, analysis and dissemination. Best practice (UK Standards for Public Involvement, INVOLVE, Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research in Canada) emphasises early involvement, training and support, fair compensation for time, named co-authorship where appropriate, and reciprocal learning. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) in the US likewise embeds patient partners into its funded research model.
Patient partners contribute most effectively when supported by practical, accessible materials — occupational therapy resources and everyday mobility aids, for instance this practical guide — that ground research conversations in lived experience.
References
- PCORI Engagement Rubric. Canada SPOR Patient Engagement framework. NIHR INVOLVE guidance.
Also known as
Patient research partner · Patient co-investigator
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
vocab-term="Patient partner"
vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/patient-partner" />{
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"description": "A patient, service user, carer or member of the public who is actively involved in shaping and conducting research as a recognised partner, typically with named role, compensation and decision-making influence.",
"inDefinedTermSet": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/domain/engagement-impact-and-sdg-alignment/",
"url": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/patient-partner",
"sameAs": [
"Patient research partner",
"Patient co-investigator"
],
"license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}
