Shared decision-making and person-centred care in Sweden: Exploring coproduction of health and social care services

Abstract

In Sweden the health system is nationally regulated and locally provided by 21 regions and 290 municipalities. To meet the shifting paradigm, where the person is viewed as a co-producer of health and care, Sweden has laws, regulations and policies which support the patient as an active partner in the communication with professionals in the system. Coproduction, person-centred care and shared decision making contribute jointly to the paradigm shift. Principles of human dignity and equity must be supported nationally and enacted in the decentralized, regional provision of care. Infrastructures exist or are under development which can support and strengthen care that is co-produced and based in a person-centred philosophy and approach, where shared decision making becomes a reality in practice. A Knowledge management system together with National Quality registries have the potential to form a co-produced, person-centred learning health system, where patients, and next of kin and professionals are included as partners. The joint integration of Shared decision making, Person-centre care and Coproduction into the Swedish healthcare system now looks like a possible way to realize the emerging paradigm.