329 Clinician and researcher knowledge, barriers, and facilitators of patient partner research engagement to accelerate translational science

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: To identify clinician and researcher barriers, facilitators and learning preferences for patient partner engagement in research. In addition, to describe the strategies, our Patient Partners Program has planned for building clinician and researcher capacity to engage patient partners in clinical research. Methods/Study Population: Our program to promote authentic patient–researcher partnerships to advance clinical and translational research is grounded in participatory approaches to maximize meaningful engagement. We utilized small group listening sessions with health care providers involved in clinical research at the University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine healthcare system. Insights from these sessions are informing the development of learning models and curriculum content. We used purposive sampling to recruit individuals (n = 12) with a wide array of patient engagement experiences across diverse clinical departments. The study materials and interview guide were co-created with a patient research partner who also participated in co-facilitating the listening sessions. Results/Anticipated Results: The interview guide included questions about the benefits, challenges, and supports to engagement and capacity building training programs for researchers. The listening sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for common themes. Preliminary findings have identified the following themes related to barriers: (1) identifying and onboarding patient partners, (2) communication challenges, and (3) institutional and structural challenges (e.g., time constraints and difficulty offering compensation) and facilitators: (1) institutional and administrative support, (2) flexibility, and (3) respect, trust, and partnership. Improved knowledge about how and when to engage patient partners was identified as a key component to build researcher capacity in patient partnered research. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Integrating patient partners into study teams accelerates innovation and translational science, increases the relevance of research findings, improves health outcomes and patient empowerment, and elevates the value of the patient perspective allowing researchers to gain a new point of view from an individual with lived experience.