title: Engaging patients and consumers in research evidence: Applying the conceptual model of patient and family engagement.
abstract: This essay discusses applying the Conceptual Framework for Patient and Family Engagement to partnerships with patients and consumers to increase their use of research evidence in healthcare decisions. The framework's foundational principles hold that engagement occurs on a continuum across all levels of healthcare-from direct care to policymaking-with patients and healthcare professionals working in full partnership and sharing responsibility for achieving a safe, high-quality, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system.
  
  
  
  Research evidence can serve as a critical decision-making tool in partnerships between patients and health professionals. However, as the framework suggests, without patient and consumer engagement in the design, planning, interpretation, and dissemination of research findings, it is unlikely that the broader consumer population will find research evidence useful, much less use it, to guide their healthcare decisions. Understanding what factors influence patient and consumer engagement can lead to effective strategies that enable meaningful partnerships between patients and researchers.
  
  
  
  Understanding patient and consumer perspectives of research evidence is critical to engaging them in meaningful partnerships that produce actionable research findings that they can in turn use in partnership with health professionals to improve their own health and the healthcare system as a whole.
authors.affiliation: American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, 20007, Washington DC, United States.
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Carman
authors.affiliation: American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, 20007, Washington DC, United States. Electronic address: tworkman@air.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Workman
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005190:Family; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations
keywords: Engaged research; Medical decision making; Patient and family engagement; Patient partnership; Research evidence