ArticleBMC health services research2021
Patient-public engagement strategies for health system improvement in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review.
Article in BMC health services research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- What makes patients engaged: a meta narrative review and multilevel perspective on patient engagement.BMC psychology · 2026Pooled it
- The Dilemmas and Opportunities of Co-Creating Health Interventions to Fit Local Contexts: An Ethnographic Study on the Adaptation of Clinical Guidelines in Tanzania.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024Trial
- Co-designing the 'Empower Community Health' programme: A capacity-building initiative to support community health workers' non-communicable disease health promotion in Ethiopia.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 2026Article
- No evidence of zoonotic viruses in selected captive and wild-caught grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) in the ashanti region of ghana: a cross-sectional study.BMC veterinary research · 2026Article
- The role of Chinese medical teams in bridging healthcare gaps in Africa: a scoping review.Global health research and policy · 2025Article
- Exploring barriers to accessing treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis through a socio-ecological lens in Buvuma and Napak districts, Uganda.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Improving access and quality of primary healthcare through women and adolescents' user committees: A mixed-methods case study in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.The International journal of health planning and management · 2025Article
- Leveraging public engagement to improve healthcare quality: The role of community and stakeholder engagement in Colombia's National Quality of Care Strategy.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Patient involvement in the biopsychosocial integrated primary care model: A qualitative study in three health districts of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
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- 'Two heads are better than one'-exploring the experiences of Ghanaian communities on the role of patient and public participation in health system improvement.Health policy and planning · 2024Article
- Unsung heroes in Ghana's healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee.Health research policy and systems · 2024Article
- Implementing patient-public engagement for improved health: Lessons from three Ghanaian community-based programmes.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2023Article
- Community Participation in Primary Healthcare in the South Sudan Boma Health Initiative: A Document Analysis.International journal of health policy and management · 2022Review
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundActively involving patients and communities in health decisions can improve both peoples' health and the health system. One key strategy is Patient-Public Engagement (PPE). This scoping review aims to identify and describe PPE research in Sub-Saharan Africa; systematically map research to theories of PPE; and identify knowledge gaps to inform future research and PPE development.
methodsThe review followed guidelines for conducting and reporting scoping reviews. A systematic search of peer-reviewed English language literature published between January 1999 and December 2019 was conducted on Scopus, Medline (Ovid), CINAHL and Embase databases. Independent full text screening by three reviewers followed title and abstract screening. Using a thematic framework synthesis, eligible studies were mapped onto an engagement continuum and health system level matrix to assess the current focus of PPE in Sub-Saharan Africa.
resultsInitially 1948 articles were identified, but 18 from 10 Sub-Saharan African countries were eligible for the final synthesis. Five PPE strategies implemented were: 1) traditional leadership support, 2) community advisory boards, 3) community education and sensitisation, 4) community health volunteers/workers, and 5) embedding PPE within existing community structures. PPE initiatives were located at either the 'involvement' or 'consultation' stages of the engagement continuum, rather than higher-level engagement. Most PPE studies were at the 'service design' level of the health system or were focused on engagement in health research. No identified studies reported investigating PPE at the 'individual treatment' or 'macro policy/strategic' level.
conclusionThis review has successfully identified and evaluated key PPE strategies and their focus on improving health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. PPE in Sub-Saharan Africa was characterised by tokenism rather than participation. PPE implementation activities are currently concentrated at the 'service design' or health research levels. Investigation of PPE at all the health system levels is required, including prioritising patient/community preferences for health system improvement.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.