The Expert Patient and Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Table 1

Domains and some possible roles of expert patients.

Clinical	Help disease management (for themselves and/or other patients, particularly for chronic or rare conditions); Identification of patient needs and communication of their values, perceptions, and preferences; Identify and report on possible side effects of treatments; Support interventions from physicians and other health care professionals, particularly in primary care—help translation of guidelines into care
Educational	Education of other patients; Contribute to updating knowledge of health professionals; Help develop decision aids; Contribute to the development and evaluation of educational programs; Participate in patients’ versions of guidelines or directly contribute to current medical guidelines; Get involved in an internet chat or blog or in a community of practice
Research	Advise on study designs; Contribute to evaluation of new treatments; Help choose research questions and define patient-relevant outcomes; Help to design and implement end-of-study knowledge translation plans
Others	Lobby to health care authorities; Represent patients in various committees; Participate in activities of patients’ associations; Contribute to the development of support groups