Patient involvement in Greenland hospital-care: A qualitative study of the patient perspective

This article deals with drivers for and barriers to patient involvement in Greenland hospital-care, from the patients’ perspective. Data were generated in 2019, via semi-structured research interviews and field observations. At the National Hospital in Nuuk, participants were purposively included to ensure variation regarding diagnosis, age, sex, socio-demographics, and place of residence. A number of 11 patients participated in individual interviews. Concurrently, observations of bed-side care situations and interactions between health professionals and patients were conducted, and informal conversations were held with eight patients. Findings were analysed using Malterud’s systematic text condensation, and constituted the following themes: “Patient characteristics”; “Interaction with staff members”; and “Personal experiences and prerequisites for information and care”. One of the main findings was that personal expectations, confidence in the quality of hospital-care, language skills, conditions around family support, and taboos concerning not being able to take care of oneself, impacted patients’ opportunities for involvement. It is concluded that patient involvement cannot be accomplished by simply focusing on patients’ health competencies. To ensure that hospital-care is provided in partnership with patients and families, it is equally important that health professionals develop new skills, and that the healthcare system is re-organised towards a more patient- oriented approach.