Sarah Whibley, Thea Lee & the VIRTUES Patient Working Group

•April 16, 2024

Patient Education, CANet

Creating educational materials (in both text and video format) that meet the needs of patients and caregivers is no easy task. It requires not only translational and medical expertise but also a deep understanding of how to incorporate the voices of the community they serve.

Sarah Whibley and Thea Lee – key members of the CANet operations team – are doing just that.

In partnership with the VIRTUES Patient Working Group, Sarah and Thea empower patients and caregivers to help shape the information they rely on to make informed decisions about their cardiovascular health. The outcome is educational materials that are more relevant and tailored to patients, a support appreciated by the patient community:

“The challenge for rural patients is getting access to support from medical teams at all stages of the process. I appreciated that the people in the videos covered a wide and diverse patient population that would allow almost all to feel they could be part of the solution.” – David, VIRTUES Patient Working Group

The ultimate goal of the materials is an improvement in health literacy, as one working group member noted:

“I’m very impressed with the information provided, and the quality of these videos. I found the explanations of each condition, whether it be stroke, heart attack, or prevention, very clear. In fact, I understand stroke and AF as well as heart attacks better than I did before watching these videos.” – Jennifer, VIRTUES Patient Working Group

When asked what Thea feels is the significance of engaging patients and caregivers in the development of the education materials, she said:

“By incorporating patient feedback into the research process, we are able to identify gaps in current practices and refine strategies that directly address their concerns. Especially in cardiovascular care, where treatments and interventions are often highly personalized, this collaborative approach can bridge the gap between scientific advancements and real-world application.” – Thea, CANet Operations Team

Sarah feels this work will positively contribute to the patient experience by:

“Providing those with cardiovascular disease evidence-based and accessible resources, supports, and information to navigate their health journey confidently. By taking the time to understand the health and wellness needs of patients, engaging them thoroughly throughout the planning, design, and evaluation processes of a project, we can ensure that patient voices and perspectives are both heard and valued in shaping cardiovascular care. After all, collaboration with patients leads to more impactful, meaningful, and relevant services which ultimately benefit everyone.” – Sarah, CANet Operations Team

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Sarah, Thea and the VIRTUES Patient Working Group, patients and caregivers are empowered to take control of their health journey, shaping the future of the patient experience. Thank you!