Patient engagement in the nonclinical setting: A concept analysis

Redesigning of health care through patient engagement at policy levels has been declared as the 21st-century solution to improving health outcomes of patients, enhancing patient safety, and reducing climbing health care costs. Despite these optimistic claims, conceptual clarity regarding patient engagement is lacking, thereby limiting the potential for both taking up this engagement and evaluating its effectiveness. Of particular interest is patient engagement in nonclinical settings, meaning engagement at more strategic tables.

A conceptual analysis, of patient engagement within nonclinical settings, using Walker and Avant's eight-step method.

Four key attributes are identified for patient engagement within the nonclinical setting: power, communication, collaboration, and information sharing. Patient engagement is defined as a process in which patients, caregivers, and health care professionals collaborate as equal partners, contributing unique skills while sharing information and perspectives toward innovative ideas that contribute to the overall improvement of health care.

The concept of patient engagement carries with it, a long journey of milestones and learning, yet continues to lack clarity. Obtaining conceptual clarity is a necessary step to developing reliable methods of measuring the actual contribution of patient engagement in health care system improvements.