Patient Journey Mapping brings together patient/public partners and healthcare providers to map out the healthcare journey as a way to understand the patient/public partners' experiences, and then analyze the resulting map to look for ways to improve programs and/or systems. Oftentimes this collaborative approach helps identify knowledge and service gaps which then can be used to inform research priorities and research questions.

Consider this method:

• When wanting to have a deeper understanding of patient/public partner needs and concerns with regard to a healthcare program, service or intervention in order to inform research priorities and/or questions
• Developing a sense of community among patient/public partners
• Patient/public partners feel more of an investment in the outcome of the research project

Note: This method often excludes people who do not have access to healthcare services whether due to geographical barriers (e.g. urban/rural) and/or systemic barriers (e.g. racism, colonialism, sexism, homophobia, ableism). Remember an important thing to do before deciding on a participatory approach in order to inform a research decision (i.e. research priorities, questions, outcome measures) is to ask the following questions: Who's affected differently by this health issue? Who has different access to this healthcare service, program or intervention? How am I going to ensure that all of these perspectives are included in making the research decision?  

Additional Resources

1. Patient Engagement Heard and Valued: Handbook

2. Patient Engagement Heard and Valued: Workbook

3. Process mapping the patient journey: an introduction