In the Nordic welfare state, user involvement is a fundamental political and population right that healthcare managers must adhere to. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate what opportunities healthcare managers in a small municipality in Norway experience in terms of user involvement in the health and care services. A total of six focus-group interviews were conducted with 12 participants, all of whom were employed as department heads or unit managers. Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) was selected as the method of analysis. Two themes were identified: (1) The municipal framework makes user involvement demanding, and (2) Communication skills are a prerequisite for user involvement. Overall, the research underscores the significance of proficient communication as the basis for user involvement in healthcare services. The study provides valuable insights into healthcare managers’ perspectives on user involvement in municipal health and care services. It highlights that communication is challenged not only by conflicts of priorities, such as lack of time, but also by uncertainty or a lack of professional skills.
Tyskø et al. (Tue,) studied this question.