This brief contains important lessons learned from the PCORI-funded Patient/Participant-Driven Research Community Learning Network (PDRC LN) project, which was supported by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) and AcademyHealth, describing the functions and capacities of PDRCs in the health research landscape that could be a helpful tool for PDRCs to identify and articulate their value to potential research partners. PDRC research activities covered in this brief include funding research, leading or collaborating on research, connecting research stakeholders, providing education and training to facilitate research, collecting and sharing data, disseminating and implementing research findings, and research advocacy. Through the broad array of research activities described in this brief, PDRCs keep patient, participant, and caregiver values and priorities central to the research enterprise.

This report, authored by the PCORnet Engagement Coordinating Center, examines established and emerging engagement activities currently being used by PCORnet networks. Sourced from a literature and document scan and network interviews with key staff and partners, this report captures and categorizes existing engagement activities using an organizing framework to facilitate a deeper understanding of promising engagement activities and lays the foundation for future efforts to assess the quality and effectiveness of specific engagement practices.

This resource was developed and provided by a third party. Opinions and information in this content are those of the third party and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI. Accordingly, PCORI cannot make any guarantees with respect to the accuracy or reliability of the information and data in this content.

Part of a series presented by the PCORnet Engagement Coordinating Center to showcase and share the successful engagement approaches of PCORnet networks, this recorded webinar features the INSIGHT Clinical Research Network (CRN) and their Accelerator model of engagement. Through the Accelerator model, INSIGHT convenes topic-specific teams of patients and other stakeholders to rapidly provide guidance on INSIGHT’s policies, research questions, and general direction. Other organizations seeking to work with INSIGHT or establish patient and stakeholder accelerator programs can use this webinar as a resource.

INSIGHT is a Network Partner in PCORnet®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. PCORnet has been developed with funding from PCORI.

This resource is an action-oriented guide developed by and for patient and participant-driven research communities (PDRCs) to sustain their work by demonstrating value to their partners, including their participants and funders. The Playbook draws from the direct experience of PDRCs, as well as evidence and resources on partnership development and nonprofit sustainability, and includes strategies and tools for PDRCs to identify their strengths, understand areas for growth, identify priority audiences, and tailor their value propositions to different audiences. The Playbook was developed as part of the PCORI-funded Patient/Participant-Driven Research Community Learning Network (PDRC LN) project, which was supported by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) and AcademyHealth.

This issue brief offers a snapshot of the full Strategies for Improving Patient Representativeness in Research Governance report, which provides examples of governance recruitment and retention practices sourced from literature scans and case study interviews from the PCORI-funded Patient/Participant-Driven Research Community Learning Network (PDRC LN) project. With a focus on engaging populations traditionally underrepresented in research in patient-driven research community governance, the brief provides exciting highlights from the report, which gives detailed descriptions of how PDRCs are doing this work and highlights lessons learned from their experiences. The brief concludes with a set of guiding principles with important implications for both funders and researchers. The PDRC LN project was supported by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) and AcademyHealth.

This issue brief offers a snapshot of the full Digital Strategies for Returning Value to Research Participants report (available here), which examines principles for returning value to research participants and provides examples of digitally-based engagement strategies sourced from literature scans and case study interviews from the PCORI-funded Patient/Participant-Driven Research Community Learning Network (PDRC LN) project. The brief provides exciting highlights from the report, which dives into how digital tools and technologies present opportunities to address practical limitations by offering a scalable and interactive means for providing information back to participants, enabling collaboration, and cultivating community. The PDRC LN project was supported by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) and AcademyHealth.

This report examines principles for returning value to research participants and provides examples of digitally based engagement strategies sourced from literature scans and case study interviews from the PCORI-funded Patient/Participant-Driven Research Community Learning Network (PDRC LN) project, which was supported by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) and AcademyHealth. Specifically, this report dives into how digital tools and technologies present opportunities to address practical limitations by offering a scalable and interactive means for providing information back to participants, enabling collaboration, and cultivating community.

This report examines the significance of and strategies for improving patient representativeness in research governance and provides examples of governance recruitment and retention practices sourced from literature scans and case study interviews from the PCORI-funded Patient/Participant-Driven Research Community Learning Network (PDRC LN) project, which was supported by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) and AcademyHealth. With a focus on engaging populations traditionally underrepresented in research in patient-driven research community governance, the report provides detailed descriptions of how PDRCs are doing this work and highlights lessons learned from their experiences. The report concludes with a set of guiding principles with important implications for both funders and researchers.

The Chicago Area Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Network (CAPriCORN) Clinical Research Network (CRN) created this consultation abstract form for researchers to submit their study plans to the CAPriCORN Patient and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) for the committee’s review. This template can be adapted by other advisory committees to review researchers’ study plans for input from the PCAC.

CAPriCORN is a Network Partner of PCORnet^®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. PCORnet has been developed with funding from PCORI.

The Accelerating Data Value Across a National Community Health Center (ADVANCE) Clinical Research Network (CRN) outlined its priorities and metrics for engagement across patient and caregiver groups in this snapshot. This resource can be used by researchers and other stakeholder groups seeking to improve their level of engagement with patients and caregivers to support a patient-centered research process.

ADVANCE is a Network Partner in PCORnet^®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. PCORnet has been developed with funding from PCORI.

This agenda template was developed by the Research Action for Health Network (REACHnet). It was created with patient stakeholders’ input for use during study meetings that include stakeholders, such as patients, clinicians, and/or payers, to overcome some common challenges stakeholders face during study-related meetings. This resource can be utilized during all phases of the research process.

This communication tool ensures that recommendations made at local sites are registered and acted upon by both the local study team and the study's steering committee. This tool walks each issue from the question posed by study staff through to the impact of feedback on the study itself. It is a useful tool both to track internal communications and to share with partners.

This communication tool clearly represents the positive impacts that partners have on studies. It guides users to lay out the topic, input and impact of engagement with stakeholders. This resource will help plan meetings, manage discussions, and share results with partners.

This communication tool tracks touches with stakeholder partners. It will allow your research team to build strong relationships with partners by ensuring timely and clear communication. It lays out both the input received and the ways that it was utilized to improve the project. It can be used internally by the study team or as a shared tool with partners.

This toolkit was specifically designed to improve stakeholder recruitment, selection and engagement. This comprehensive document includes an overview of the SEED Method, instructions, example documents – including timelines, meeting agendas, and powerpoint slides – and customizable templates – including organizational documents, facilitation guides, and training materials. An optional evaluation module is also included as part of the toolkit for users who would like to assess SEED Method processes or outcomes.

This board charter template can be used to help study teams clearly lay out the roles of their advisory boards, bodies or committees. Using the format and content provided in this document as a jumping off point, study teams can work in collaboration with their partners to define the scope and responsibilities that will be expected of stakeholders involved with the study.

This two-pager on electronic health data utilizes the metaphor of making chocolate to clearly lay out how electronic health records can be used to anonymize data. It is a useful tool for clearly explaining EHRs and the privacy inherent in building a research network. It pairs with a video on YouTube that focuses on the same topic.