Affiliation:
1. Patients Affairs Department Saint George Hospital Beirut Lebanon
2. Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Pécs Pécs Hungary
3. Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences Beirut Arab University Beirut Lebanon
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionCancer is regarded as a major worldwide burden. Patient distress has been linked to disease progression. Studies show that engagement strategies affect clinical decision‐making and patient outcomes. The optimal engagement method is a partnership that integrates the patient's expertise into the comprehensive co‐design of the healthcare system.ObjectivesThis is the first study to investigate cancer patient‐as‐partner experience and its impact on distress levels, decision‐making and self‐management.MethodsIt is a quantitative and quasi‐experimental study that adopted a partnership committee at a Lebanese hospital. A stratified random sampling approach was used, and data were collected by self‐administered questionnaires. We utilized the standardized distress thermometer and PPEET.ResultsWe recruited 100 patient partners. Cancer patients‐as‐partners had optimal engagement experience in QI projects (mean = 4; SD = 0.4). The main partnership benefit was improved hospitalization experience (49%). Almost half of PP reported no challenges faced (49%). Recommendations for improvement were training (19%), team dynamics management (12%) and proper time allocation (7%). The distress level post‐partnership was significantly reduced (t = 12.57, p < 0.0001). This study highlights the importance of partnership and its ability to influence shared decision‐making preference [χ2(2) = 13.81, p = 0.025] and self‐management practices [F(3, 11.87) = 7.294, p = 0.005].ConclusionResearch findings suggest that partners from disadvantaged groups can have optimal partnership experience. A partnership model of care can shape the healthcare system into a people‐oriented culture. Further research is needed to explore diverse PP engagement methodologies and their effect on organizational development.Patient or Public ContributionPatients and family members were engaged in the co‐design of the study methodology, especially the modification of a research instrument. Patient partners with lived experience were involved in the patient partnership committee as core members to improve healthcare system design and evaluation.