Working title: Social Images in An Enlarged European Union
Abstract
Research topic and research questions
The research area refers to the idea of patient empowerment in terms of patient and citizen participation as a new social image in health care systems and health policy. In particular, the thesis deals with the introduction of a new image into an existing pattern of institutions, actors, interests and ideas. The subject is not only about translating a new idea into a policy conception and eventually into practice but moreover about transforming the very content of the basic image. This process will be scrutinised focusing exemplary on the changing role of patients and citizens in health policy conceptions in different countries.
By means of comparison of how and why the new image of patient empowerment is realised in different cases the thesis aims to:
- investigate the role and relevance of patients’ matters of concern within practical concepts of patient and citizen participation,
- clarify the background against which the concept of patient and citizen participation is settled,
- relate the new image to alternative and existing ones,
- contribute to the theoretical understanding of the correlation between ideas/images, political conceptions, institutions and interests,
- contribute to investigating the role of systemic issues in translating new ideas into practice in order to show feasible forms of patient empowerment.
- After all we shall be able to indicate effective measures involving patients and citizens in health politics.
The thesis asks how does the new image of patient and citizen empowerment fit into the existing health systems, and to what extent might the existing framework change it? Are patients’ and citizens’ interests still a matter of concern, once a new image has been translated into a political conception?
Specific research questions deal with the actual organisation of patient and citizen participation in different countries and to what extent patients and citizens may participate in decision-making processes. Do patients feel taken seriously and informed? What has actually been the purpose of introducing patient and citizen empowerment? Does it constitute a goal in itself or rather a means for other ends? In what terms has patient and citizen empowerment been perceived ? What does the practical concept of patient participation consist of in different countries? What is, finally, the relationship between framework conditions and the practical concept of patient and citizen empowerment?
Research program
The thesis is based on theoretical reflections on the relationship between images and goal systems added by theoretical approaches to the interaction of ideas, interests and institutions. In addition, it takes advantage of and will develop certain typologies in order to classify health systems and forms of empowerment. The investigation focuses rather on political outputs and outcomes as well as contents than on the decision-making process and advocacy coalitions. However, contents are then put into contexts. This is to say that the thesis takes a qualitative approach, added by some quantitative aspects when it comes to including survey results. It will compare two cases, Finland and Poland, while the German health system may serve as a point of reference. Both the Finnish and the Polish health systems appear comparable when assuming that both represent (mainly) public and universal systems. Both having introduced some sort of patient and citizen empowerment, Finland and Poland differ with regard to the respective forms so as to constitute different ends of a spectrum of patient empowerment. A comparison and analysis of different strategies and processes may help to figure out central issues at stake.
Relevance to the graduate school’s framework topic
The topic fits in the module on the future shaping of the European Social Model, as the new emphasis put on patient and citizen participation in social and health policies refers to a redirection of the European Social Model towards a greater concern for individual interests and those directly concerned.