PEARL for Patients

Are you looking for opportunities to share your lived experience and improve our healthcare system? A patient is someone who has had recent personal experience with a health issues, whether as a patient or as an informal caregiver to a patient, such as a family member or friend. Patients can be involved in health research as Patient Partners or participants. There are a variety of ways patients can take part in health research. Patients have lived experience that provides a unique perspective to health research. When patients share their priorities and engage throughout the research process, the outcomes can lead to positive changes in the healthcare system and improve the quality of life for everyone in Saskatchewan.

• Patient Partners are equal members of the research team and may be engaged at any or all stages throughout the research process. Patient Partners have expertise gained through their lived experience with a health issue. As members of the research team, they contribute their unique expertise, which helps ensure the research is relevant and meaningful to patients. Patient Partners may have varying roles on a research project. They might identify priorities, assist with data collection and analysis, and share results with other patients and policy/decision makers who apply them within the healthcare system.

• Participants are patients that contribute to research by participating in studies and providing input in specific areas, however they are not members of the research team. A participant has recent patient experience with a health issue or is a friend or family member who has provided care for a patient. Participants take part in the research study by sharing their knowledge through surveys or interviews, taking part in focus groups or providing data for research projects. Participant opportunities usually require less commitment than Patient Partner opportunities; however, participants are still a vital part of the research process.

Current Opportunities

Current Patient Partner and Participant opportunities are listed below. If you find an opportunity you would like to pursue, please express your interest by clicking the button and filling in the form.

Additional Opportunity:

• Anesthesiologists/anesthesia residents, surgeons, internal medicine physicians, operating room/PACU nurses, and anesthesia assistants that are practicing/training in Saskatchewan, as well as Patient Family Partners residing in Saskatchewan are invited to take part in a virtual workshop to inform the selection of a comprehensive provincial electronic medical record system for Saskatchewan. Click here to learn more or contact Maria Cruz at 306.966.8305 or maria.cruz@usask.ca.