A Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Wound Prevention and Care in Canada: Grounded in Stories and Guided by Co‐Design and Community‐Based Participatory Principles

ABSTRACT

This project co‐created a Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities in Wound Prevention and Care grounded in the lived experiences of patients and care partners. Guided by co‐design and community‐based participatory research principles, digital stories from the ‘Our Voices, Our Stories’ initiative, publicly hosted on the Wounds Canada website, were analysed using thematic and interpretive narrative approaches informed by social constructivism. Initial analysis identified nine themes, later expanded through iterative team‐based analysis to capture recurring challenges and systemic barriers in wound care. These informed 36 preliminary statements (18 rights, 18 responsibilities), which were refined into a draft framework of 16 rights and 16 responsibilities. The co‐creation process engaged diverse participants including individuals with lived experience, care partners, clinicians, and policymakers through three virtual workshops (May–July 2025). Through facilitated discussions and collaboration, the framework was refined to a final set of 12 rights and 12 responsibilities ( n  = 24), with over 88% agreement among participants. This framework offers a plain‐language, equity‐oriented approach that positions patients, care partners, and providers as partners in care. This framework serves as an educational and advocacy tool to strengthen person‐centred wound care, enhance communication and continuity, and inform practice, education, and policy development.