6 research outputs found
Including citizens in institutional reviews: expectations and experiences from the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate
Background: Recent changes in the structure and policy context of
Dutch health care have placed the issue of citizen participation
high on the agenda of the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate (IGZ),
which conducts quality and safety reviews in medical practices and
health-care institutions. With a few exceptions, the potential role
that citizens can play in the regulation of health-care institutions is
overlooked in research on patient/citizen participation in health
care.
Objective: This research addressed the following question: What
are the (political) expectations for increasing citizen participation
in health-care regulation and how do these compare to regulators’
expectations and experiences in practice?
Design: Because of the largely explorative nature of this study, we
used qualitative methods (document and web analysis, focus
groups and interviews) to answer this question.
Results: Our study shows that inspectors already have experience
with participatory formats that lead to important information.
There are three areas where the IGZ is currently increasing citizen
participation: (i) providing individuals with information about
inspectorate processes and activities, (ii) including patients as
sources of information, and (iii) formally reviewing how citizen
participation is ensured by health-care institutions. In situations
where the patient has the clearest overview of the whole care trajectory,
intensive methods of participation deliver valuable information.
Conclusions: It is important to target participation activities and to
capitalize on existing opportunities and activities, rather than creating
participation activities for the sake of participation. In this
regard, further research on the effectiveness and efficacy of different
participatory strategies is necessary