Abstract
Background
Public involvement is widely considered a way to improve health and quality of health services. The research literature reveals ambiguities concerning the added value and the unintended negative consequences of public involvement processes. The aim of this study was to identify, synthesize and present an overview of added value and unintended negative consequences of public involvement processes in the planning, development, and implementation of community health services.
Methods
36 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from a systematic search (published in a review article) in the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases in 2021 were coded and extracted according to the aim of the study. A thematic synthesis was conducted involving (1) line-by-line text coding, (2) developing descriptive themes and (3) generating analytical themes.
Results
Two main themes with corresponding subthemes were identified providing an overview of the added value of public involvement processes (theme 1) at individual, service, and political levels. Unintended negative consequences (theme 2) show how individual resources is required, and uncertainty about the effect of involvement on services and power differences among providers and the public revealed.
Conclusions
The added value of public involvement processes is primarily reported on an individual and service level and often accompanied by unintended negative consequences. Professional facilitators and recruitment of a wider group of participants representing vulnerable groups is important to promote equality in public involvement.
Public involvement is widely considered a way to improve health and quality of health services. The research literature reveals ambiguities concerning the added value and the unintended negative consequences of public involvement processes. The aim of this study was to identify, synthesize and present an overview of added value and unintended negative consequences of public involvement processes in the planning, development, and implementation of community health services.
Methods
36 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from a systematic search (published in a review article) in the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases in 2021 were coded and extracted according to the aim of the study. A thematic synthesis was conducted involving (1) line-by-line text coding, (2) developing descriptive themes and (3) generating analytical themes.
Results
Two main themes with corresponding subthemes were identified providing an overview of the added value of public involvement processes (theme 1) at individual, service, and political levels. Unintended negative consequences (theme 2) show how individual resources is required, and uncertainty about the effect of involvement on services and power differences among providers and the public revealed.
Conclusions
The added value of public involvement processes is primarily reported on an individual and service level and often accompanied by unintended negative consequences. Professional facilitators and recruitment of a wider group of participants representing vulnerable groups is important to promote equality in public involvement.
| Original language | Danish |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | European Journal of Public health |
| Volume | 33 |
| Publication date | Nov 2023 |
| Edition | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2023 |
| Event | 16th European Public Health Conference 2023 Our Food, Our Health, Our Earth: A Sustainable Future for Humanity - Dublin, Ireland Duration: 8. Nov 2023 → 11. Nov 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | 16th European Public Health Conference 2023 Our Food, Our Health, Our Earth: A Sustainable Future for Humanity |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Ireland |
| City | Dublin |
| Period | 08/11/2023 → 11/11/2023 |
Related impacts
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Metoder til inddragelse af borgere i planlægning, udvikling og implementering af kommunale sundhedsindsatser
Overgaard, C. (Participant), Schultz Petersen, K. (Participant), Pedersen, J. F. (Participant) & Egilstrød, B. (Participant)
Impact: Academic impact, Social impact