Making activities visible: a way to patient empowerment

Abstract

Patient empowerment is a concept that has found an extensive discussion in health care. It is of significant interest, especially now when the number of people living with chronic diseases has increased. However, there is a stigma associated with being a patient, and contributing to empowerment becomes more challenging. In this paper, we present an empirical study of the cognitive rehabilitation process. We root the case analysis in Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) research field and further reflect on patient empowerment concept. Through our reflections, we contribute to the discussion of patient empowerment by highlighting some of the work structures that need to be in place in healthcare to make possible patient empowerment. Moreover, we contribute back to CSCW through a situated discourse of concepts in the context of rehabilitation care model. Rendering publicly visible the activities and facilitating the overseeing of events and activities, both in the level of the overall treatment as well as the micro-interactions among health care professionals and patients, are found relevant in building awareness among parts and leading to empowerment.