Designing and delivering public engagement activities together with patient partners: The experience of Public Conference on Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Public outreach and engagement activities can greatly benefit from collaborating with patient partners in planning and execution. Here, we describe and reflect on our experience regarding the organization and delivery of the Public Conference on Cancer, a virtual public event that aimed to exchange knowledge on cancer, cancer lived experiences, and cancer services and support in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, including 12 cancer-affected members, four scientists, as well as a clinician and a research assistant formed the conference organizing team. The team's experiences and reflections and the feedback received after the Conference were used to distill perspectives gained, lessons learned, and opportunities identified. The Public Conference on Cancer was a successful public engagement event. It reached out to the general public, initiated new or strengthened existing connections among stakeholders, disseminated important clinical and social knowledge on cancer, and gave us further ideas and expertise to use in future public outreach activities. We also realized challenges remaining, such as the need to improve accessibility and recruitment, and unique considerations for patient speakers and speakers from special/vulnerable communities. While there are considerations that need to be further elaborated and integrated for widely accessible public engagement activities, partnering with cancer patients and family members in designing and delivering public outreach activities is effective in knowledge dissemination, personal and professional growth, and forming connections with stakeholders.