Office for Patient Engagement in Research Activities (OPERA)
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Overview
The Office for Patient Engagement in Research Activities (OPERA) is a research and clinical collaboration between stakeholders with an interest in patient-informed high-quality research methods and efficient dissemination. It is a partnership between the Ottawa Methods Centre (OMC) and The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) Patient and Family Advisory Program (PFAP). OPERA supports patient-oriented research through consultations, training, resources, and additional research to advance the body of knowledge in this area.
Patient-oriented research at The Ottawa Hospital
Patient-oriented research (POR) is about putting patients first – research that is informed by patients and focuses on what is important to patients. It produces information for decision makers and health-care providers that will improve health-care practices, therapies and policies. It ensures that new and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are applied where they are needed (CIHR 2014).
Refers to a continuum of research that engages patients as partners, focusses on patient-identified priorities and improves patient outcomes. This research, conducted by multidisciplinary teams in partnership with relevant stakeholders, aims to apply the knowledge generated to improve the health-care systems and practices.
Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)
Patient engagement
Meaningful and active collaboration in governance, priority setting, conducting research and knowledge translation. Depending on the context patient-oriented research may also engage people who bring the collective voice of specific, affected communities.
About the Ottawa Methods Centre
The Ottawa Methods Centre (OMC) is one of twelve members of the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit (OSSU) funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to provide the necessary methodological expertise to investigators pursuing patient-oriented research.
CIHR: Strategy for patient-oriented research
Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is a national coalition of federal, provincial and territorial partners including patients and caregivers, researchers, health practitioners, policy makers, provincial/territorial health authorities, academic institutions, charities, the pharmaceutical sector and others dedicated to the integration of research into care.
The Ottawa Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Program
The TOH PFAP provides a voice to all patients and families of patients who receive care at TOH. The program provides the members the opportunity to provide feedback and get involved to improve the quality of TOH’s care for all patients and family members.
Visit Become a TOH Patient and Family Advisor to learn more about the PFAP.