Patient participation – implications for myocardial infarction care

The project investigated how the demand for involving the patient in the decision-making process concerning his/her treatment and care can be achieved in all phases of myocardial infarction care, from the acute phase to the secondary prevention process.

We used a qualitative study, made with focus group interviews, patients’ and personnel’s understanding of patient participation. We also studied whether they see it as a desirable concept and if there are situations when participation is not appropriate. Results show that often patient participation is interpreted as being equivalent to informing the patient or obtaining informed consent from the patient, without involving the patient in the medical decision-making. To seek participation from a patient suffering from acute myocardial infarction poses great ethical challenges upon the staff. To inform the patient in such a situation might be seen as one way to fulfil the legal demand for patient participation in health care.

Publications

Arnetz JE, Höglund AT, Arnetz BB, Winblad Spångberg U, Staff views and behaviour regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care: Development and evaluation of a questionnaire, European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2008;7:27-35.

Arnetz JE, Winblad U, Arnetz BB, Höglund AT, Physicians’ and nurses’ perceptions of patient involvement in myocardial infarction care, European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2008;7:113-120.

Arnetz JE, Höglund AT, Arnetz BB, Winblad U, Development and evaluation of a questionnaire for measuring patient views of involvement in myocardial infarction care, European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2008;7:229-238.