Journal Article

Reconciling validity and challenges of patient comfort and understanding: Guidelines to patient‐oriented questionnaires

Sabourin, Véronique, Ramsden, Vivian R., Chouinard, Maud‐Christine, Howse, Dana, Hudon, Catherine, Danish, Alya, Lambert, Mireille, Cassidy, Monique, Rubenstein, Donna, Doucet, Shelley, Bisson, Mathieu, Dumont‐Samson, Olivier, Schwarz, Charlotte, Porter, Judy

2022

Overview

Background Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are widely recognized as important tools for achieving a patient‐centred approach in health research. While PROMs are subject to several stages of validation during development, even questionnaires with robust psychometric properties may challenge patient comfort and understanding. Aim Building on the experience of patient engagement in the PriCARE research programme, this paper outlines the team's response to concerns raised by patient partners regarding the administration of the questionnaire. Methods Based on a participatory action research design and the patient engagement framework in the Strategy for Patient‐Oriented Research of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, PriCARE team members worked together to discuss concerns, review the questionnaires and come up with solutions. Data were collected through participant observation of team meetings. Results This paper demonstrates how patient partners were engaged in PriCARE and integrated into the programme's governance structure, focusing on the challenges that they raised regarding the questionnaires and how these were addressed by PriCARE team members in a six‐step approach: (1) Recognizing patient partner concerns, discussing concerns and reframing the challenges; (2) Detailing and sharing evidence of the validity of the questionnaires; (3) Evaluating potential solutions; (4) Searching the literature for guidelines; (5) Creating guidelines; and (6) Sharing and refining guidelines. Conclusion This six‐step approach demonstrates how research teams can integrate patient partners as equal members, develop meaningful collaboration through recognition of individual experiences and expertise and ensure that the patient perspective is taken into consideration in research and healthcare innovation. Patient or Public Contribution All patient partners from the PriCARE programme were actively involved in the six‐step approach. They were also involved in the preparation of the manuscript.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Action research / Chronic illnesses / Comfort / Comorbidity / Data collection / Governance / Guidelines / Health education / Health literacy / Health research / Health services / Innovations / Institutes / Medical research / Medicine, Experimental / Mental disorders / Mental health / Original / Participant observation / Participatory action research / Patient communication / patient engagement / Patient satisfaction / Patient-centered care / Patients / patient‐reported outcome measure / Primary care / Property / Quality of life / Quantitative psychology / questionnaire / Questionnaires / Research design / Surveys / Teams / Validity / Vulnerable Populations Special