Patient Engagement Open Forum (PEOF) Provocative Co-creation

Patients at the Heart of Early MedTech Development

At the Patient Engagement Open Forum (PEOF) 2024 in Italy, the parallel session “Patients at the Heart of Early MedTech Development” provided a structured overview of how patient involvement can be integrated into Early Feasibility Studies (EFS) for medical devices. The session combined expert presentations with facilitated group discussions to examine expectations, information needs, and decision-making considerations from a patient perspective.

Speakers and facilitators included:
• Francesco Malandrini, SDA Bocconi School of Management
• Claudia Louati, European Patients’ Forum (EPF)
• Yasemin Zeisl, EPF
• Valentina Strammiello, EPF
• Phil Collis, HEU‑EFS Patient Advisory Group
• Lucia Feito Allonca, HEU‑EFS Patient Advisory Group

Topics addressed during the session included:

• the purpose and structure of Early Feasibility Studies,
• opportunities to integrate patient input at an early stage,
• challenges related to communication, risk understanding, and informed decision-making,
• and practical considerations for multi-stakeholder collaboration in early MedTech development.

Key conclusion: patient involvement in the early phases of device development improves the relevance, quality, and acceptability of innovative medical technologies.

Thank you to all contributors and participants for advancing the discussion on patient‑centred approaches within the HEU‑EFS initiative.