Search

Introduction: Patient and public involvement is vital for high‐quality research. Integrating patients' and providers' perspectives early in research enhances the feasibility and relevance of study results. Within our family practice‐based research network ForN, we established a standing patient advisory board (PAB) to include patients with diverse conditions and experiences. In this paper, we aim to describe the establishment and functioning of a standing PAB in family medicine research from patients' and researchers' perspectives. Methods: After each PAB meeting, patients and researchers were asked to name anonymously positive and challenging moments in a feedback form with open questions. Researchers were also asked to reflect on how they implemented the discussion content in their research projects. The responses from both groups were transferred to MAXQDA 2018 and analyzed separately using thematic analysis. Results: We analyzed 40 feedback forms from patients and 14 feedback forms from researchers. The dominant theme in the patients' feedback was 'exchange': They positively emphasized the 'exciting and open discussions' and the exchange of perspectives with one another and researchers. The clarity of the researchers' presentations and the research topics were appreciated. Researchers also positively highlighted the open atmosphere of the discussions. Presenting their research to the PAB helped most researchers reflect on their research topics from patients' perspectives and implement changes. However, researchers also mentioned several barriers to the implementation of PAB members' feedback. Conclusion: The establishment of a standing PAB in family practice research is feasible and productive both from patients' and researchers' perspectives. Patient or Public Contribution: This study reports the evaluation of the establishment of a standing PAB in family practice research. Board members are involved in the design of studies, the co‐production of interventions and information material, and the interpretation of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Family practice is an important setting for health promotion and prevention in Germany. However, there is a research gap regarding the involvement of nonmedical practice staff in health promotion. Therefore, our aim is to gain an indepth understanding of the role health care assistants (HCAs) can play regarding health promotion in family practice. Methods: We conducted 21 qualitative semi-structured interviews via telephone with 14 physicians and 7 HCAs, inquiring both professional groups about the role of HCAs concerning health promotion in their practice. The interviews were evaluated separately for both professions using thematic analysis. Results: In addition to organizational tasks such as making an appointment and communicating with physicians, HCAsmainly take on a key function as the first contact person in all practices: They recognize preventive needs, select eligible patients early at the reception and actively address them about preventive services. In some practices, HCAs carry out health-promoting measures such as training courses. However, with regard to further delegation of tasks, physicians in particular expressed concerns as they did not want to overburden HCAs. Conclusions: HCAs often take on organizational activities with regard to health promotion in family practice, but due to their function in the practice structure, they can also shape the practice as a health-promoting setting for patients. In addition, HCAs navigate patients with regard to preventive and health-promoting services. In accordance with their key role as initial contact, it should be worked out together with HCAs how health promotion can be addressed in a structured way at first contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]