The federal Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is considering a new funding initiative to inform “the science of engagement.” But what is that, exactly?
The field of engagement science is the systematic study of methods for and outcomes of engagement, in order to inform high-quality, patient and community-centered research. In other words, engagement researchers seek to understand the most effective ways to meaningfully involve diverse patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other stakeholders throughout the entire research process—from planning the study, to conducting the study, to disseminating the results.
Scientific investigators try to engage various stakeholders in the research process, but how should they engage them? What works best? And why does a particular approach work? These are the questions that engagement researchers attempt to answer. For a deeper dive, read this summary on engagement science from AcademyHealth.
Are you involved in this field? We’d love to hear from you!
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Philip Alberti
Senior Director, Health Equity Research and Policy
Association of American Medical Colleges
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