Improving patient participation in VBHC

Insight is needed in how to overcome barriers in patient participation and how to improve patient participation within Value Based Health Care (VBHC). As multidisciplinary project teams around medical conditions are most commonly used by hospitals; this study mainly focused on improving patient participation within such teams. To this end, an action research approach was used, with the ultimate goal to develop a practical guide for patient participation based on the lessons learned.

This study was conducted in seven Dutch Santeon hospitals from March 2023 to November 2024. Seven multidisciplinary project teams were selected to participate in the cyclical action research steps. These included the following patient groups: prostate cancer, vulnerable elderly, breast cancer, diabetes, maternity care, colorectal cancer, and chronic kidney disease. Qualitative observations and minutes of meetings with the intervention teams were collected. The Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool (PPEET) was completed by multiple members of the intervention (n=7) and control teams (n=94) at three time points (T1=6 months, T2=12 months, T3=end of study).

Notes were made during 106 meetings with the VI teams as part of the action research study. On average, each team had 15 meetings (ranging from 5-75 minutes) where 1-12 VI team members attended the meetings. The observation tool was completed 42 times. Furthermore, throughout the action research process, 302 PPEET questionnaires were completed by intervention and control team members.

The data is archived at St. Antonius hospital and not available for reuse due to privacy restrictions.