To encourage researchers to actively involve patients in research, Amsterdam UMC wants to set up a platform on patient involvement in research within Amsterdam UMC. This webpage is a starting point and provides information on what patient involvement is and how to successfully involve patients in research (projects). It also gives an overview of resources that are already available to help researchers think and plan for meaningful patient involvement throughout the research process.

Patient involvement is the active and collaborative interaction between researchers and patients across various stages of the research process. Patients make valuable contributions to many types and phases of research. Involving patients is important and can improve research in multiple ways:

  • Research projects gain more societal impact
  • Improvement of research designs
  • More likely that interpretations and conclusions are correct
  • Greater opportunity to access the research target group
  • More patients who continue to participate in research projects
  • Better understanding of what patients find acceptable
  • Better informed consent process
  • Better care for patients in research
  • Better dissemination of the results
  • Greater opportunity for research funding
  • Surprising questions and themes come to light

Please contact the Research Grant Support for additional infosheets on patient involvement in research (projects).