Opinion: Let Patients Participate in Their Care

With an election year underway, politicians have a prime opportunity to demonstrate that patient-centered care is more than just rhetoric, writes Susanna Eriksson Lindberg, who lives with a hereditary heart condition. She urges them to follow the Patient Act and ensure patients' rights are upheld.

Research from the University of Gothenburg indicates that patients with heart failure or the lung disease COPD experience a better quality of life with patient-centered care, and at a lower cost. These patients showed slower deterioration in quality of life, fewer hospitalizations, and reduced sick leave. Studies suggest these benefits extend to all patient groups, particularly those with chronic illnesses.

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Now that it is an election year, there is a golden opportunity for our politicians to show that patient-centered care is more than beautiful words. Follow the Patient Act and ensure that our rights are met.

However, patient-centered care, which involves treating the patient as an active partner in their treatment and decision-making based on their needs and life circumstances, is still not standard practice in Swedish healthcare. Lindberg shares her 25-year experience as a patient with LMNA-dilated cardiomyopathy, often encountering resistance when she sought to be involved in her care.

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All too often have I felt like a 'difficult' patient when I have asked for information, requested test results or wanted to participate in care planning, operational planning and decisions.

"It has meant an enormous amount," she writes, referring to the times healthcare professionals listened and involved her. "To be able to participate, one needs information. Too often, I have felt like a 'difficult' patient when asking for information, requesting test results, or wanting to participate in care planning, operational planning, and decisions."

While some healthcare units have begun discussions and projects on patient-centered care, Lindberg warns that these initiatives risk becoming top-down projects that strain already overworked staff. Successful implementation requires dedicated time for training, clear leadership, and sufficient resources. Patients, often in a vulnerable position, need courage and energy to assert their right to participate. Patient-centered care, she concludes, not only improves quality of life but also saves lives, enhances patient safety, and contributes to a better working environment for healthcare professionals.

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Patient-centered care not only provides better quality of life, but saves lives, increases patient safety and at the same time contributes to a better working environment for healthcare staff.