[Patient involvement using the example of the Innovation Fund project "Integrated, cross-sectoral Psychooncology" (isPO)]

Background: In the German health care system, the participation of patients (patient representatives) and the consideration of their perspectives in all phases of research and care are being increasingly demanded. How appropriate patient participation (participation of patient representatives) can be designed is illustrated by the example of the project on the new form of care titled "Integrated, cross-sectoral psychooncology nVF-isPOI" and funded by the Innovation Fund at the Federal Joint Committee.

Method: The realization of patient (representative) participation is presented by the example of the isPO project, taking into account the short form of the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2). This is done on the basis of the involvement and participation of patients (patient representatives) in research, care and care evaluation, as well as quality development (1) through the Haus der Krebs-Selbsthilfe - Bundesverband e. V. (HKSH-BV), as the consortium and contract partner in conceptual project work, (2) through the participation of cancer survivors in the role of isPO oncoguides, and (3) through the involvement of cancer patients in the evaluation of the nVF-isPO.

Results: Through the constant involvement of the HKSH-BV as a consortium partner, the patients' perspective informed the development and implementation of the nVF-isPO at an early stage. The nVF-isPO's isPO-Oncoguide concept, developed in collaboration with the HKSH-BV, made it possible to involve cancer survivors as isPO-Oncoguides in health care. In addition, oncological patients, who are regarded as health benefit recipients in the health care evaluation, were involved in the further development of the quality of care of the nVF-isPO.

Conclusion: The involvement and consideration of the expertise of patients (patient representatives) in all phases of development, implementation and evaluation have been realized in the isPO project. The isPO project has been recognized by the HKSH-BV as having a high degree of patient participation; and the nVF-isPO and the concept of the isPO-oncoguide are recognized as relevant, acceptable and of high quality from the perspective of both cancer survivors and cancer patients.