Opportunities - Responsive Engagement of Surgical Patients for Equitable Care and Treatment (RESPECT) Study Patient Advisory Council
Responsive Engagement of Surgical Patients for Equitable Care and Treatment (RESPECT) Study Patient Advisory Council
University of Calgary
Background
Racism and other forms of unfair treatment can affect how patients experience healthcare, particularly surgical care. Racialized patients may experience barriers to communication, trust, participation in decisions, and fair treatment. However, there is limited Canadian research examining these experiences and how surgical care can be improved.
The RESPECT Study (Responsive Engagement of Surgical Patients for Equitable Care and Treatment) aims to better understand racialized patients’ experiences during surgical care. In particular, we are interested in patients’ experiences with informed consent, communication with healthcare teams, and the engagement in decision making, as well as what can help make surgical care more fair and inclusive of the patient.
This study includes a survey and focus groups with patients who have had surgery in Alberta. The goal is to use patients’ experiences and perspectives to examine difficulties that reduce fair treatment and care for surgical patients, and develop recommendations and tools that can improve patient engagement and fair treatment in surgical care.
Roles and Responsibilities
We are looking for patients, or family members of patients with lived experiences of surgery in Alberta to join a patient advisory council for the RESPECT study.
We are especially interested in hearing from people from racialized communities and people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. We hope to build a group that reflects the diversity of patients receiving surgical care in Alberta.
Patient and family member partners will work alongside researchers and other community partners throughout the study. Your experiences and ideas will help us make sure that the research questions, study materials, recruitment approaches, and findings are meaningful and relevant to patients and communities.
What would I be asked to do?
Attend online meetings (via Zoom) with other patient partners and researchers to:
- Provide feedback regarding study materials including surveys, focus group scripts, and participant recruitment material.
- Pilot test the survey to examine its reliability.
- Share the project with your community to support participation and help with more inclusive recruitment.
Time Commitment
Project will start in November 2026.
Patient and family member partners will be asked to join online monthly meetings of approximately 1 hour long each for 4 months. As well as there may be some preparation time reviewing study materials, anticipated to take approximately 30 minutes to an hour before each meeting.
Compensation
Patients or family members of patients with lived surgical experiences in Alberta will be offered financial compensation for their time preparing for and participating in meetings.
For more information or to apply
Ramez Salama
salama.ramez@ucalgary.ca
