Training New Protagonists: Analysis of a “Patients in Publications” Course

Patient involvement in authorship of peer-reviewed publications is on the rise, as multiple stakeholders recognize the value of patient voices to enhance research understanding, design, and outcomes. The Workgroup of European Cancer Patient Advocacy Networks (WECAN) collaborated with publication professionals (Envision Pharma Group) to cocreate an open-access training course to enable patients to publish peer-reviewed publications. This new “Patients in Publications” course has been popular, attracted patients, and reached relatively diverse audiences. Participant diversity may have been enhanced by plain language content (reducing language barriers), open access (reducing cost barriers), online delivery (reducing travel/logistics barriers), and co-creation with patients (increasing trust and awareness among patient communities). Efforts to enhance participant diversity continue.