Involving patients and publics in healthcare

Patients and patient organizations, and other members of the public and communities are widely recognized as important stakeholders in processes through which healthcare systems and services are designed, delivered, and monitored. Their involvement in these processes is promoted not only as a strategy to enhance the quality of systems and services, but also as an act of democratic participation. Yet putting involvement into practice is not straightforward. This chapter outlines the field of involvement in healthcare, focusing on some of the key areas of debate. These include definitions of involvement, the rationales put forward, involvement as represented in policy, and the methods used. The chapter summarizes some current key debates in relation to questions of who is involved, power, and evidence of effectiveness.