Innovative Methods in Designing Policy: Case Study of Drafting Phase of Oncology Treatment Plan, 2022–2024

Description

At the end of 2020, the Ministry of Health of Latvia initiated a new approach to collecting the opinions of patients, doctors and representatives of institutions engaged in oncological care - a method of design thinking. The aim of such innovative policy designing approach was to prepare the "Plan for the improvement of health care services in the field of oncology for 2022 - 2024". Previous policy designing methods - meetings with stakeholder within existing cooperation formats and legislative frames were challenged by low input from patients and lack of inititative toward innovations.The purpose of this article is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of design thinking in the formation of a policy document - in the perspective of patients and their organizations.. A qualitative research method was used - focus group interviews - on patient experience as a desigh thinking workshop participants. Focus group participants were segmented into the following groups: 1) Chronic disease patients (patients with oncological diseases); 2) Representatives of patient organizations; 3) Relatives of patients.. A total of 80 focus group participants were interviewed, with a total number of hours - 32. All groups were organized according to the criteria necessary for the objective selection of respondents throughout Latvia. Additionally 1 hour 1:1 interview with each participant was delivered (80 hours together).. 1.All focus group members pointed to a positive assessment of the use of an innovative method and their involvement in it. 2.The effectiveness of the method in the perspective of its users was closely linked to the outcome of the policy. 3.By engaging patients with innovative methods in policy-making, the strengthening of existing participation formats is also expected. In general, the use of innovative methods in policymaking cannot be disconnected from the quality of overall democratic engagement and the deliverable results of policies.

Period	29 Mar 2023
Event title	RSU Research week 2023: PLACES
Event type	Conference
Conference number	3
Organiser	Rīga Stradiņš University
Location	Rīga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International