Optimizing Patient Information Material for a New Psycho-Oncological Care Program Using a Participatory Health Research Approach in Germany

High-quality patient information material (PIM) is essential for patients ' informed decision-making, and its quality may influence a care program's acceptance. In the new psycho-oncological care program, isPO, the initial PIM was developed top-down and required optimization. In this paper, we report on the process and experiences of optimizing PIM's quality bottom-up by applying a Participatory Health Research (PHR) approach. Cancer-patient representatives of the national peer-support group contributed as co-researchers as part of the optimization team. A mixed-methods design was chosen. First, the quality of the initially utilized PIM was assessed with the newly designed user-friendly instrument UPIM-Check. Next, three Participatory Action Research loops were conducted, including cancers survivors and isPO service providers. The initial isPO PIM's were assed to be of low quality, limited usability and incomplete. Bottom-up generated optimization suggestions led to the improvement of two initially used PIMs (leaflet, patient information folder) and the design of two new PIMs (poster, study information overview). The optimized PIM facilitates isPO service providers' care provision and helps newly diagnosed cancer patients in understanding and accepting the new program. PIM optimization benefited from applying PHR. The patient representatives' contribution and active patient engagement were central for quality assessment and designing needs-driven, mature and complete PIM.