New Publication: Guiding Principles for Patient and Public Engagement

We recently published a set of guiding principles for patient engagement in health professional education. The principles were co-created with patients and representatives of community organizations that serve a wide range of patient populations. They are designed to help medical schools build relationships with their local communities to increase the participation of patients and the public in the educational mission of medical schools.

Accountability, inclusion, reciprocity, partnership and shared decision making were top priorities followed by co-production, two-way communication, supports, and different levels of engagement. Importantly, the principles have been endorsed by senior leaders in UBC’s medical undergraduate program. Graphic versions of the principles and a short video of participants speaking about their importance and offering ideas for their implementation are available on our website.

The research highlights the need for medical schools to invest in building trusting and respectful long-term relationships with patients and the public. The project was funded by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Towle A, Wang L, Ong K, Kline C. Guiding Principles for Patient and Public Engagement in the Educational Missions of Medical Schools. Academic Medicine: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005728, April 3, 2024.

If you have difficulty accessing the paper, please email cathy.kline@ubc.ca.