Beyond the Bedside : The New Era of Patient Engagement

What better way to improve patient outcomes than to include them in every step of the treatment process?  Interesting question, right? Well, I have very much fallen in love with the concept of 'patient engagement' in clinical research. You read that right! Patient Engagement is when patients are included as important stakeholders in the research process, from planning and decision-making to the implementation of treatments and beyond. 

Imagine a world where patients don't just passively receive care but actively contribute to shaping it. This approach is all about valuing patients' perspectives and insights, recognizing that they bring unique and invaluable experiences to the table. By involving patients in clinical trials and research, we can ensure that the studies address real-world needs and concerns. In turn, this makes the outcomes more relevant and beneficial. 

Patient engagement can take many forms. it may involve patients advising on study design, helping to develop patient-friendly materials or even participating as co-authors in publications. This collaborative approach leads to research that is not only more ethical but also effective. After all, who better to inform the research than those who will ultimately be affected by its results? 

One exciting trend in patient engagement, as I mentioned earlier is the use of co-patient authorship. This approach goes beyond This means that patients are not just subjects of the research but are also credited as authors. It acknowledges their significant contributions an ensures their voices are heard in scientific publications. 

Another key aspect is technology. With the rise of digital health tools, patients can now provide real-time feedback and engage with researchers more easily than ever before. Mobile health apps, online-surveys, and virtual focus groups are just a few examples of how technology is bridging the gap between patients and researchers, making engagement more accessible and convenient.  Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making a major contribution in the healthcare industry to make the research and drug development process a tad bit easier for the patients, such as the recent trend of 'Digital Twins'. They are interestingly, used in clinical trials to lessen the burden on the human volunteers. Digital twins are a game-changer in clinical research as they offer a way to test hypothesis and explore treatment options putting real patients at risk. This not only accelerated the research process but also enhances the accuracy and relevance of the findings. Despite their numerous benefits, I can't help but remain skeptical about the accuracy of translating results from digital twins into real human outcomes. Recently, I attended a conference on AI advancements in healthcare, where one of the presenters asked for our opinions on whether patients would prefer the use of AI in clinical trials. And it got me thinking about the balance between innovation and trust. While AI an digital twins offer groundbreaking potential, patient acceptance and confidence in these technologies are crucial. 

In conclusion, patient engagement is transforming the landscape of clinical research. By involving patients as partners, we are moving towards a more inclusive, effective, and patient-centered approach to healthcare. It's an exciting time to be involved in this field, and I can't wait to see how these trends continue to evolve and improve patient outcomes. Stay tuned for more insights and trends in the world of clinical research! 

If you would like to read more in detail about patient engagement, I would suggest the following link to the paper titled " systematic review of models of patient engagement in the development and life cycle management of medicines"   

REFERENCES 

1. Harmony.solutions. 2024 [cited 2024 Jun 2]. Available from: https://harmony.solutions/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/patient-engagement.png