Value-Based Healthcare as a Competitive Strategy-A Multi-Stakeholder Perception Analysis in Portuguese Healthcare.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Management
• Health Economics

Background:

• Designing accessible and financially viable healthcare systems is a significant societal challenge.
• Value-based healthcare (VBHC) is a strategic model designed to enhance healthcare quality and system efficiency simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stakeholder perceptions of value creation within the Portuguese health industry.
• To understand the comprehension of VBHC as a competitive advantage among industry stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing Braun and Clarke's inductive method, adhering to COREQ criteria.
• Semi-structured interviews with 15 stakeholders in VBHC, guided by an eight-question script refined through literature review and expert testing.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews, resulting in 605 codes organized into subthemes and themes.

Main Results:

• VBHC implementation presents challenges that necessitate collaborative stakeholder efforts.
• Achieving a unified vision of value and multi-stakeholder alignment is essential for successful VBHC adoption.
• Stakeholders recognize VBHC's potential to provide a sustainable competitive advantage.

Conclusions:

• The adoption of VBHC as a strategic model is projected to be inevitable in the future.
• Successful VBHC implementation requires overcoming current challenges through enhanced collaboration and shared understanding of value.