title: The role of consumers in health care decision making.
abstract: This paper focuses on the results of a survey of chief executive officers and consumer board members of Ontario hospitals and community health centres regarding the role of consumers in health care decision making. The opinions of both the chief executive officer and consumer board member respondents were elicited regarding the value of consumer input in decision making for the organizations studied. Results indicate that consumer board members feel that their input into organizational decision making is valued, chief executive officers value the input of consumers, and consumer involvement in decision making is increasing. More women are now involved on boards of the organizations studied, but visible minority representation remains low on hospital boards. Consumer board members feel that their decision making is influenced by providers on the board.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahearn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manga
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016542:Chief Executive Officers, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006075:Governing Board / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006752:Hospital Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario; D012380:Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires