Table 1 Overview of the training program

Premise of the Simulation

A researcher meets with an engagement specialist* to discuss how to find a family partner to include on a grant proposal that the researcher is submitting next week

A researcher has just received a large grant and is meeting with 3 family partners for the first time to obtain feedback on the project’s research objectives

A researcher meets with a physical therapy student who is also a former client to get their thoughts on the results of data analysis that is being conducted by the research team

A PhD student and their supervisor are meeting online with a family partner to discuss sharing their study’s results. Tensions arise when the family partner asks to share the results with her son’s principal, but the researchers want to wait until the study is published in an academic journal

Key Learning Points of the Simulation

Prompts learners to examine the value of building rapport and trust through time management, and the importance of setting the stage before seeking a family partner

Explores what happens when there is a discrepancy between the desired outcomes of family partners and researchers and highlights the importance of articulating the hopes and expectations of all team members at the outset of the project

Illustrates the multiple identities family partners bring to the research team, and if ignored or unwelcomed, the partnership may feel inauthentic. Emphasizes the importance of discussing roles and expectations of partner contributions and the value of lived experience

Explores ethical considerations of co-authorship and the need to discuss expectations at the beginning of a partnership