🧠 Food for thought: Moving Beyond “Patient-Focused” to “Patient-Engaged” Science

🔎 Patient-focused approaches, seen in the traditional top-down investigational model, can sometimes treat patients as subjects of care, missing the critical human element of shared decision-making and cultural context.

👥 By contrast, patient-engaged science fosters collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. It shifts the dynamic from “what is done to the patient” to “what is done with the patient.” This approach empowers patients and leads to more equitable, culturally sensitive care.

🌍 While patient-focused models have advanced medical science, they often neglect diverse patient voices. Inclusive patient-engaged care is crucial in decolonizing health practices, ensuring patients are partners, not passive recipients.

Illustration credit: Dr. Linda Bonga Bouna

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