Healthy and Happy Citizens: The Opportunities and Challenges of Co-Producing Citizens’ Health and Well-Being in Vulnerable Neighborhoods

Carola Van Eijk (), Wilma Van der Vlegel-Brouwer and Jet Bussemaker
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Carola Van Eijk: Public Administration, Leiden University, P.O. Box 13228, 2501 EE The Hague, The Netherlands
Wilma Van der Vlegel-Brouwer: LUMC, Leiden University, P.O. Box 13228, 2501 EE The Hague, The Netherlands
Jet Bussemaker: LUMC, Leiden University, P.O. Box 13228, 2501 EE The Hague, The Netherlands

Administrative Sciences, 2023, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: This explorative study aims to contribute to the debate about citizen involvement in (complex) medical and social issues. Our research goals are: (1) to explore the main opportunities, threats and challenges to co-producing healthcare in vulnerable communities from the perspective of professionals, co-producers (i.e., citizens with a volunteering role) and service users (i.e., patients); (2) to distil lessons for public managers concerning the main issues involved in designing co-production initiatives. We studied co-production initiatives in the Dutch city, The Hague. These initiatives were part of a broader, unique movement named ‘Healthy and Happy The Hague’, which aims to change the way healthcare/social services are provided. Two intertwined research projects combine insights from interviews, focus group meetings and observations. The first project analyzed a variety of existing co-production initiatives in several neighborhoods; the second project involved longitudinal participatory action research on what stakeholders require to engage in co-production. The two research projects showed similarities and differences in the observed opportunities/treats/challenges. The study found that empowering citizens in their role as co-producers requires major changes in the professionals’ outlook and supporting role in the communities. It illustrates the potential of synergizing insights from healthcare governance and public administration co-production literature to benefit co-production practice.

Keywords: co-production; citizen participation; positive health; healthcare inequalities; social services; vulnerable neighborhoods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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