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Context-based patient choice management in healthcare

An Chen (Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Institute of Healthcare Engineering, Management and Architecture (HEMA), Aalto University, Espoo, Finland)
Paul Martin Lillrank (Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Institute of Healthcare Engineering, Management and Architecture (HEMA), Aalto University, Espoo, Finland)
Henni Tenhunen (Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Institute of Healthcare Engineering, Management and Architecture (HEMA), Aalto University, Espoo, Finland)
Antti Peltokorpi (Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland)
Paulus Torkki (Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Institute of Healthcare Engineering, Management and Architecture (HEMA), Aalto University, Espoo, Finland)
Seppo Heinonen (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Hospital,University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)
Vedran Stefanovic (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetomaternal Medical Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance

ISSN: 0952-6862

Article publication date: 12 February 2018

375

Abstract

Purpose

In healthcare, there is limited knowledge of and experience with patient choice management. The purpose of this paper is to focus on patient choice, apply and test demand-supply-based operating (DSO) logic integrated with clinical setting in clarifying choice contexts, investigate patient’s choice-making at different contexts and suggest context-based choice architectures to manage and develop patient choice.

Design/methodology/approach

Prenatal screening and testing in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), Finland, was taken as an example. Choice points were contextualized by using the DSO framework. Women’s reflections, behaviors and experience at different choice contexts were studied by interviewing women participating in prenatal screening and testing. Semi-structured interview data were processed by thematic analysis.

Findings

By applying DSO logic, four choice contexts (prevention, cure, electives and continuous care) were relevant in the prenatal screening and testing episode. Women had different choice-making in prevention and cure mode contexts regarding choice activeness, information needs, social influence, preferences, emotion status and choice-making difficulty. Default choice was widely accepted by women in prevention mode and individual counseling can help women make informed choice in cure mode.

Originality/value

The authors apply the DSO model to contextualize the patient choice in one care episode and compare patient choice-making at different contexts. The authors also suggest the possible context-based choice architectures to manage and promote patient choice

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by Fetomaternal Medical Center and delivery hospitals staff in Helsinki. Special gratitude is owed to Satu Leminen, Minna Richards and Maaria Puupponen, Eija Raussi-Lehto and Antti Niemi from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences for their contributions. This paper was financially supported by Aalto University, Helsinki University Hospital and the SalWe’s GID program.

Citation

Chen, A., Lillrank, P.M., Tenhunen, H., Peltokorpi, A., Torkki, P., Heinonen, S. and Stefanovic, V. (2018), "Context-based patient choice management in healthcare", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 52-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-01-2017-0016

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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