Considering Preference‐Based Patient Participation—Scientific and Clinical Outcome Measures With the Patient Preferences for Patient Participation Tool

Rationale Integrated and person‐centred care is defined by several elements, one of them being the terms for patient involvement with respect to their needs and resources. We call this ‘patient participation’, emphasising the sharing component of mutual information and knowledge exchange and the shared actions of the patient and their healthcare professionals in making plans and decisions, framing goals, and providing for self‐care. Comprehensively addressing all aspects, including both patients' preferences for and experiences of participation, deserve support how to investigate and represent preference‐based patient participation. Objective To offer theoretical and analytical guidance for the Patient Preferences for Patient Participation tool (the 4Ps), with procedures suitable for research and clinical evaluation. Method The paper illustrates the planning and execution of analyses to illuminate preference‐based patient participation (or partial such participation, or lack thereof). Also, we discuss why, when, and how to address preferences for patient participation along with preference‐based measures. Two sets of reports are presented for research and clinical purposes. Results By means of three cases across different healthcare contexts, we illustrate what these findings represent, and how to differentiate between insufficient, fair, and sufficient terms for preference‐based patient participation. Furthermore, the more detailed scale for such patient participation is considered in relation to the outcome measures of interventions in research and clinical improvement. Conclusion The 4Ps is a means for evaluating preference‐based patient participation, though the matching of ordinal measures for preferences and experiences requires a careful and well‐informed approach to planning and executing data collection and statistical analyses. As an outcome measure of interventions to facilitate more person‐centred healthcare, researchers and clinicians should recognise theoretical and conceptual conditions. This enhances a recognition of patients' voice and choice; patients and staff can agree on how best to make use of resources and needs, improving health and healthcare engagement.