Our free, online, self-learning programme that introduces patients and carers to some of the basic skills and knowledge needed to represent yourself and others successfully.
Access the online trainingThe European Patient Ambassador Programme (EPAP) is a free, online, self-learning programme that introduces patients and carers to some of the basic skills and knowledge needed to represent yourself and others successfully. It is made up of 8 modules so you can choose those that interest you most:
EPAP is available in English, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Ukrainian.
You can choose which modules you are most interested in or work your way through them all. The total programme should take no more than 10 hours to complete. You can stop and start the programme when convenient to you and save your progress as you go along.
A certificate is issued to you at the end of each completed module.
There are many reasons why you might decide to get involved in patient and public involvement (PPI) and become a patient ambassador (patient representative). For example:
As a patient or carer you have a unique perspective on the impact a chronic condition has on life, work and family, and you are in the best position to suggest improvements and solutions to improve policies, healthcare decisions and the delivery of services.
As a patient ambassador, you can represent others living with a condition and share your experience of how a chronic condition affects people’s lives.
As patient and public involvement (PPI) in healthcare grows, many more healthcare professionals are seeing the value of involving and engaging patients when writing guidelines, doing research, priority setting and making decisions about funding.
Read our factsheet on PPI to find out more about how speaking up for yourself and others can make a huge difference to how healthcare is delivered.
Visit EPAP: https://elearning.epaponline.eu/
Select the language you wish to complete EPAP in, register your details, and get started with the module of your choice.
If your organisation is interested in using EPAP and in signposting your members or service users to it, why not become one of our partners?
Advantages for your organisation include:
Some partners have also worked with us to translate EPAP into other languages relevant for their own members/service users.
EPAP was developed by the European Lung Foundation (ELF) and the NIHR CLAHRC for Leeds, York and Bradford, with the help of patients, and professionals with expertise in key areas.
ELF originally developed EPAP to engage with patients ready and able to get involved in the future of respiratory healthcare. However, we worked with partners to ensure that the programme is suitable to people living with any chronic condition.
Regular reviews of the content take place.
We host EPAP Live sessions throughout the year to raise awareness of how we can advocate for better lung health. These events are an opportunity to discuss priority areas, as defined by our stakeholders, with the experts.
If you have any questions about EPAP, email epap@ersnet.org.
