The European standard Patient involvement in healthcare – Minimum requirements for person-centred care (EN 17398:2020), which was initiated by GPCC, has been confirmed for another five years in its current form. This was the outcome of the recent scheduled systematic review.
The standard became Europe’s first standard for patient involvement in person-centred care when it was published in 2020. It was developed under the leadership of Sweden and the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), with Axel Wolf from GPCC serving as chair of the European working group. Standards are reviewed systematically at intervals of up to five years. In this case the member countries of the European standardisation organisation CEN were to decide whether the standard should remain unchanged, be revised, or be repealed. Their decision was for it to remain unchanged for another five years.
European cooperation with strong research-based knowledge
"This is very welcome news," says Axel Wolf, GPCC Centre Director. "The confirmation of the standard for another five years shows it remains relevant, robust and useful across different healthcare systems. For GPCC, it is especially meaningful that the standard was developed through European collaboration with strong research-based knowledge on person-centred care. The decision to confirm the standard in its current form underlines the importance of minimum requirements that support genuine patient involvement, partnership and shared decision-making in healthcare.”
Standards such as EN 17398:2020 help translate person-centred care from ambition into practice. They provide a common language and a practical foundation for quality development, education, implementation and follow-up.
Supports healthcare organizations in strengthening person-centred care
“It is also very encouraging that many regions have already started working with implementation of the standard, showing that it is not only relevant on paper but is beginning to make a difference in practice," Axel Wolf adds. "I am pleased that this important work will continue to support healthcare organisations across Europe in strengthening person-centred care."
A basis for patient and relative/carer collaboration
The Network Against Cancer, which consists of national cancer-profiled patient and interest organizations in Sweden, is very positive that the standard will be maintained for another five years. They bring the standard up in working and reference groups, in patient councils and in research in Sweden and internationally.
“More people in the healthcare profession and in research need to learn about this important and useful standard,” says Margareta Haag, Chair of the Network Against Cancer. "In our assignments, we always bring it up as a basis for patient and relative/carer collaboration and we want to spread knowledge about the standard. Healthcare personnel in primary and specialist care, in work within prevention and rehabilitation, as well as researchers in clinical studies and in research all need to have knowledge of and use this standard.”
