Consumers' and health providers' views and perceptions of partnering to improve health services design, delivery and evaluation: a co-produced qualitative evidence synthesis

• Published in: Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2023-03, Vol.3 (3), p.CD013274-CD013274
• Main Authors: Merner, Bronwen, Schonfeld, Lina, Virgona, Ariane, Lowe, Dianne, Walsh, Louisa, Wardrope, Cheryl, Graham-Wisener, Lisa, Xafis, Vicki, Colombo, Cinzia, Refahi, Nora, Bryden, Paul, Chmielewski, Renee, Martin, Fiona, Messino, Nancy M, Mussared, Anne, Smith, Lorraine, Biggar, Susan, Gill, Marie, Menzies, David, Gaulden, Carolyn M, Earnshaw, Leia, Arnott, Leslie, Poole, Naomi, Ryan, Rebecca E, Hill, Sophie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caregivers; Community Participation; Consumer & communication strategies; Effective practice & health systems; Health Personnel; Health Services; Humans; Interventions for communication exchange between providers and consumers (Group 3)
• ISSN: 1469-493X
• DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013274.pub2

Partnering with consumers in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health services is an essential component of person-centred care. There are many ways to partner with consumers to improve health services, including formal group partnerships (such as committees, boards or steering groups). However, consumers' and health providers' views and experiences of formal group partnerships remain unclear. In this qualitative evidence synthesis (QES), we focus specifically on formal group partnerships where health providers and consumers share decision-making about planning, delivering and/or evaluating health services. Formal group partnerships were selected because they are widely used throughout the world to improve person-centred care. For the purposes of this QES, the term 'consumer' refers to a person who is a patient, carer or community member who brings their perspective to health service partnerships. 'Health provider' refers to a person with a health policy, management, administrative or clinical role who participates in formal partnerships in an advisory or representative capacity. This QES was co-produced with a Stakeholder Panel of consumers and health providers. The QES was undertaken concurrently with a Cochrane intervention review entitled Effects of consumers and health providers working in partnership on health services planning, delivery and evaluation. 1. To synthesise the views and experiences of consumers and health providers of formal partnership approaches that aimed to improve planning, delivery or evaluation of health services. 2. To identify best practice principles for formal partnership approaches in health services by understanding consumers' and health providers' views and experiences. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL for studies published between January 2000 and October 2018. We also searched grey literature sources including websites of relevant research and policy organisations involved in promoting person-centred care. We included qualitative studies that explored consumers' and health providers' perceptions and experiences of partnering in formal group formats to improve the planning, delivery or evaluation of health services. Following completion of abstract and full-text screening, we used purposive sampling to select a sample of eligible studies that covered a range of pre-defined criteria, including rich data, range of countries and country income level, settings, participants, and types of partnership act