Patient participation in municipal elderly care from the perspective of nurses and occupational therapists

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe how nurses and occupational therapists in municipal care of older people define and implement patient participation in their daily work. DESIGN: This study had a cross‐sectional design. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. METHODS: The questionnaire had both closed and open‐ended questions. One‐hundred and fourteen nurses and occupational therapists responded. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified as follows: “The professionals’ perspective at the centre – Patient participation to enhance compliance” and “The patients’ perspective at the centre – Patient participation as an ongoing process.” The themes covered a continuum. On one extreme, patient participation was equated with making the patient comply with what the professionals wanted to do. On the other extreme, all power was transferred to the patient. The first theme was restricted to the decision‐making process. The second theme covered the entire care or, rehabilitation, process.