Barriers to patient involvement in health service planning and evaluation: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
Patient involvement in health service planning and evaluation is considered important yet not widely practiced. This study explored stakeholder beliefs about patient participation in performance indicator selection to better understand hypothesized barriers.


METHODS
Interviews with 30 cancer patients and health professionals from two teaching hospitals were analyzed qualitatively.


RESULTS
All groups believed patients, not members of the public, should be involved in the selection of indicators. Ongoing, interactive methods such as committee involvement, rather than single, passive efforts such as surveys were preferred. Health professionals recommended patients assume a consultative, rather than decision-making role. Older patients agreed with this.


CONCLUSIONS
Variable patient interest, health professional attitudes, and a lack of insight on appropriate methods may be limiting patient involvement in this, and other service planning and evaluation activities. More research is required to validate expressed views among the populations these stakeholders represent, and to establish effective methods for engaging patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to encourage a change in health professional attitude may be required, along with dedicated organizational resources, coordinators and training. Methods to engage patients should involve deliberation, which can be achieved through modified Delphi panel or participatory research approaches.
Gagliardi
Anna R
AR
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Room C8-30, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N3M5. anna.gagliardi@sunnybrook.ca
Lemieux-Charles
Louise
L
Brown
Adalsteinn D
AD
Sullivan
Terrence
T
Goel
Vivek
V
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009864:Ontario; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires