Co-creation means the structured creation of needs-based supportive care together with patients and their relatives. In a multi-stage process, brochures, websites, podcasts, apps or PSPs are created in line with sufferers’ actual requirements in terms of relevance, design, benefit, usability, credibility and patient-friendly language. By incorporating the knowledge, experience and competence of patient experts, services with patient-relevant added value can be developed that improve sufferers’ quality of life. Once co-creation structures have been established, it is smart to use them long term.
Formats for working with patients and their families on a long-term basis include expert teams, advisory boards or ambassador programmes. We speak of patient centric innovation when it is standard to continuously involve those affected throughout the product life cycle.