Staying on TRACK in Family Partnership: Guiding Challenging Conversations Between Researchers and Family Partners

Abstract

Involving people with lived experience, those personally affected by a living condition, is increasingly common in research focused on their experience.¹ Families may participate through partnership, meaning their active, significant involvement as members of the core research team. In health research, this approach improves families’ connection to care, increases participant retention, enhances outcomes, and produces more relevant research findings.^2,3,4,5 However, effective partnership requires time, resources, communication, and clearer role definitions.⁶

Staying on TRACK is an infographic tool designed to guide difficult conversations in research projects where family partnership is central. Although partnerships often begin with a plan, communication can break down when unexpected challenges arise. Staying on TRACK includes an infographic and worksheet that can be used before or during tough conversations. It supports researchers and family partners already working together to pause, refocus their partnership, and plan next steps to keep their project on TRACK.