Patient and public involvement in medical performance processes: A systematic review

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Patient and public involvement (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content>) continues to develop as a central policy agenda in health care. The patient voice is seen as relevant, informative and can drive service improvement. However, critical exploration of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content>'s role within monitoring and informing medical performance processes remains limited.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>To explore and evaluate the contribution of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> in medical performance processes to understand its extent, purpose and process.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Search strategy</jats:title><jats:p>The electronic databases PubMed, Psyc<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">INFO</jats:styled-content> and Google Scholar were systematically searched for studies published between 2004 and 2018.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Inclusion criteria</jats:title><jats:p>Studies involving doctors and patients and all forms of patient input (eg, patient feedback) associated with medical performance were included.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Data extraction and synthesis</jats:title><jats:p>Using an inductive approach to analysis and synthesis, a coding framework was developed which was structured around three key themes: issues that shape <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> in medical performance processes; mechanisms for <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content>; and the potential impacts of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> on medical performance processes.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Main results</jats:title><jats:p>From 4772 studies, 48 articles (from 10 countries) met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that the extent of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> in medical performance processes globally is highly variable and is primarily achieved through providing patient feedback or complaints. The emerging evidence suggests that <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> can encourage improvements in the quality of patient care, enable professional development and promote professionalism.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion and conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Developing more innovative methods of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> beyond patient feedback and complaints may help revolutionize the practice of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PPI</jats:styled-content> into a collaborative partnership, facilitating the development of proactive relationships between the medical profession, patients and the public.</jats:p></jats:sec>