Patient participation in the development and delivery of health care services, and implications for quality: Protocol for a scoping review.

Abstract

Introduction Patient participation is increasingly important in individual patient treatment (micro-level), in institutional decisions (meso level) and in decisions on a governmental level (macro level). Nevertheless there is still conflicting evidence about the impact of involving patients in health service development and limited agreement on how to make it happen. This scoping review will map and describe characteristics of meso level approaches to patient participation and facilitators for successful patient participation. We will summarize existing knowledge about patient participation, and the impact on health care services. Methods The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on patient participation in the development and delivery of health care services and implications for quality, following the PRISMA checklist for scooping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). This review will be guided following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for scoping reviews. All primary studies in English and Scandinavian languages will be eligible. The participants will be patients or healthcare professionals in healthcare services (older than 16 years old). Searches will be conducted in four electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and PsycINFO, and in grey literature. The final search results will be exported into EndNote, and from EndNote to Covidence to be screened. Final study selection and eligibility criteria will be developed post hoc based on increased familiarity with the literature. The data charting form will be developed and then pilot tested, before results will be reported in a tabular form with a list of factors. Furthermore, the meaning of the results will be summed up in relation to the study objectives. Dissemination and ethics Results will be disseminated through academic journals, conferences and seminars for health care professionals, patient organizations, included health care institutions, and communicated to policymakers. The project is funded by the Dam Foundation and does not require ethical approval.