title: Successful participation of patients in interprofessional team meetings: A qualitative study.
abstract: The number of people with multiple chronic conditions increases as a result of ageing. To deal with the complex health-care needs of these patients, it is important that health-care professionals collaborate in interprofessional teams. To deliver patient-centred care, it is often recommended to include the patient as a member of the team.
  
  
  
  To gain more insight into how health-care professionals and patients, who are used to participate in interprofessional team meetings, experience and organize patient participation in the team meetings.
  
  
  
  A qualitative study including observations of meetings (n=8), followed by semi-structured interviews with participating health-care professionals (n=8), patients and/or relatives (n=11). Professionals and patients were asked about their experiences of patient participation immediately after the team meetings. Results from both observations and interviews were analysed using content analysis.
  
  
  
  The findings show a variety of influencing factors related to patient participation that can be divided into five categories: (i) structure and task distribution, (ii) group composition, (iii) relationship between professionals and patients or relatives, (iv) patients' characteristics and (v) the purpose of the meeting.
  
  
  
  Patient participation during team meetings was appreciated by professionals and patients. A tailored approach to patient involvement during team meetings is preferable. When considering the presence of patients in team meetings, it is recommended to pay attention to patients' willingness and ability to participate, and the necessary information shared before the meeting. Participating patients seem to appreciate support and preparation for the meeting.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Autonomy and Participation for People with Chronic Illnesses, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, the Netherlands.|Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jerôme Jean Jacques
authors.initials: JJJ
authors.lastname: van Dongen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Iris Gerarda Josephine
authors.initials: IGJ
authors.lastname: Habets
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Autonomy and Participation for People with Chronic Illnesses, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, the Netherlands.|Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beurskens
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marloes Amantia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Bokhoven
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: chronic diseases; co-operative behaviour; interdisciplinary communication; interprofessional collaboration; interprofessional team meetings; patient care team; patient participation; qualitative research