Background
Recently, several initiatives have focused on how to create true person-centred health services. This calls for a new understanding of health-related empowerment in relation to people living with one or more chronic conditions.
We report on a Delphi investigation among participants in the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing that has led to a new understanding of health-related empowerment.
Methods
The Delphi process was conducted in three sequential rounds. In the first round, we presented a suggested first version for a definition of “health-related empowerment” divided into nine statements. One hundred and twenty-two experts were then asked if they agreed or not with each individual statement, and in the case they disagreed, to state the reasons for their disagreement.
After revisions, the experts who had replied to the first version were asked again, if they agreed or not with each individual statement of the second version and to elaborate on disagreements.
Finally, in the third round the experts were asked to provide comments to the final proposed definition in general and not by each statement.
Results
A total of 33 experts responded to the first version. The following revision included a merging of two statements, and the addition of health literacy as part of the understanding. The second version was sent out to the 33 experts and a total of 19 experts commented with moderate consensus. Changes included removal of “self-esteem” and change of “self-confidence” to confidence.
Third version was sent out to all 122 experts with 16 respondents. Strong consensus was obtained for this third version, and is with one minor change presented as the final version.
Conclusion
We propose a new understanding of the concept health-related empowerment, by focusing on the individual as a co-manager with freedom to choose and focus on their own well-being.
The Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) proposed six Action Groups. After almost three years of activity, many achievements have been obtained through commitments or collaborative work of the Action Groups. However, they have often worked in silos and, consequently, synergies between Action Groups have been proposed to strengthen the triple win of the EIP on AHA. The paper presents the methodology and current status of the Task Force on EIP on AHA synergies. Synergies are in line with the Action Groups' new Renovated Action Plan (2016-2018) to ensure that their future objectives are coherent and fully connected. The outcomes and impact of synergies are using the Monitoring and Assessment Framework for the EIP on AHA (MAFEIP). Eight proposals for synergies have been approved by the Task Force: Five cross-cutting synergies which can be used for all current and future synergies as they consider overarching domains (appropriate polypharmacy, citizen empowerment, teaching and coaching on AHA, deployment of synergies to EU regions, Responsible Research and Innovation), and three cross-cutting synergies focussing on current Action Group activities (falls, frailty, integrated care and chronic respiratory diseases).
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