ELF Chair responds to BMJ article on patient involvement in healthcare conferences

A response to an article on patient involvement in healthcare conferences written by ELF Chair Dan Smyth has been published in The BMJ.

The original article was written by two experts on patient involvement from the UK who are on the journal’s patient panel. The article focused on how organisers of healthcare conferences can improve the way in which they involve patients in their events to make sure that patients have a meaningful and positive experience.

In his response, Dan gives an overview of ELF’s commitment to bringing patients and the public together with healthcare professionals to positively influence lung health. He shares ELF’s efforts to meaningfully involve patients and patient organisations at the annual European Respiratory Society International Congress as speakers and participants in major sessions, educational courses, workshops and other activities.

Dan also highlights the European Patient Ambassador Programme (EPAP), a free online course ELF developed to help patients and carers to gain the skills and knowledge they need to represent their condition to politicians, policy makers, researchers and the media.

Find out more about EPAP. 

Read Dan’s full response.

Read the original article (subscription required).