The patient voice refers to the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of patients and their families or caregivers in the context of healthcare research. It is a term used to describe the active involvement of patients in the design, execution, and dissemination of research studies that aim to improve health outcomes and patient care.

In the past, patients were often viewed as passive recipients of healthcare services and were not considered to have an active role in research. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of including the patient voice in healthcare research. This recognition is driven by the belief that patients have unique insights and perspectives that can help researchers better understand their experiences, preferences, and priorities.

The patient voice is particularly important in real-world research, which focuses on understanding healthcare outcomes in the context of everyday clinical practice. By including patients in the research process, researchers can ensure that the research questions and outcomes are relevant and meaningful to patients. This can lead to more patient-centered research that has the potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Overall, the patient voice is an essential component of real-world research, as it helps to ensure that research is conducted in a way that is responsive to the needs and priorities of patients.