Enhancing Early Medical Education Through Patient Engagement: Creation of a Toolkit Informed by Experts by Experience

Abstract

Incorporating the patient voice into health professional education enhances empathy, promotes person-centred care and enriches learning. This cocreation article describes the development of a practical, feedback-informed toolkit to support early medical education through expert by experience (EBE) engagement. EBEs from The Silverlining Brain Injury Charity contributed to the design via a qualitative study using open-ended questionnaires. Thematic analysis identified six key themes: the importance of respectful engagement, logistical challenges, clarity of session expectations, recognition of EBE expertise, personal benefits of participation and ethical concerns. EBEs emphasised the need for dignity, structured facilitation, emotional safeguards and flexible delivery methods. The resulting toolkit is mapped directly to these themes. It includes guidance on planning, facilitation, ethical considerations, orientation and evaluation. Designed for Level 3 of the patient engagement spectrum, where EBEs share lived experiences in faculty-facilitated teaching, the toolkit promotes meaningful, sustainable involvement. It responds to growing calls for coproduction in health education and serves as a replicable model for integrating patient insights into curriculum design and delivery. While based on a small, specialised sample, the depth and clarity of EBE feedback offer strong foundations for this resource. Future work should explore its adaptability across different healthcare disciplines and settings. To increase accessibility, the toolkit is available in two formats: as a shareable webpage and a navigable PDF document. This approach enables wider reach and sustained use by educators, ensuring that patient voices remain central to shaping future health professionals.