The Capacity for Patient Engagement: What Patient Experiences Tell Us About What's Ahead

Abstract

Although great achievements in patient engagement merit celebration, many patient collaborators recognize growing gaps are straining the promise of seamless partnership. Recruitment is failing to keep pace with demands for diversity and expertise. Attempts to sustain enthusiasm face volunteer burnout and dropout. The investment in professional capacity to partner with patients contrasts sharply with the missing equivalent for patients asked to meet ever more demanding roles. While peer-led initiatives attempt self-help, more is needed to support patients to fulfill the potential for fully diverse, competent and fulfilling collaboration across all facets of healthcare.