Balancing Time and Commitments
In this topic page, both patients and researchers describe having to find a balance between the time needed for partnership commitments and that for other work and personal commitments. While some of the patients described having sufficient time, others felt challenged to manage their various commitments as a research partner, their own work, studies and/or family obligations.
For Suzanne, participation has been manageable but wishes there was more time
Transcript
We meet online every two months, and that meeting time is set by sending out a survey and seeing who’s available, when, within a specific timeframe, and then the one when most people are available is the one that turns up, and all of those so far, I’ve been able […]
Marc had more time to be involved when he was no longer a full-time caregiver
Transcript
Interviewer: How do you make a balance between the time and your engagement? I am at a stage in my life where I have more choices, freedom of choices in my commitments and my involvement. Research is important to me. So, every time I am given the opportunity, I find […]
The need for flexibility
Patients appreciated when there was flexibility in the timing of meetings, for example scheduling evening meetings or being able to indicate preferred times through an online poll. It was also appreciated when facilitators respected the timelines for the meetings, and when there was an ability to meet online or ensuring that meetings were not too long. These kind of strategies helped patients to balance their participation with their personal obligations.
As a researcher, Nicole arranged meetings around patients’ availabilities
Transcript
And then we also worked, like set up meeting times that were like best for them, because one of them is a student and one of them has a full-time government job, so there’s like only certain days and times that can work for meetings and stuff, so we tried […]
Without flexibility, Claire would not have been able to participate
Transcript
The flexibility was key. I really don’t think that I could’ve done it without the flexibility. I needed that flexibility in terms of when the meetings were set, the team was really very respectful of how I was feeling and my time, they – I would always be included in […]
Knowing what was expected, as well as when and where, helped Maxime schedule his work and study obligations
Transcript
So I’m generally someone that I say yes to pretty much everything and I tend to make things work. So no matter the schedule or whatever my schedule was, being a patient advisor was not — I made sure that it was not going to interfere with my work or […]
At times the workload for the patient engagement activities could also become overwhelming.
Linda was frustrated when her engagement obligations interfered with work deadlines
Transcript
The negative aspects, depending on the project, has probably been in some cases the time commitment. [Pause] Yeah, I really think that’s – that’s it. Sometimes the amount of material that had to be reviewed, and the time commitment, sometimes, but not always, and not always in the projects that […]
Review date: 2022-03