Over the past decade, the health service in Greenland has undergone extensive centralization, which has an impact on the citizens. The citizen's or user's view of access to and encounters with the health service has so far only been examined to a limited extent. This report puts into words citizens' experiences of access to and encounters with the healthcare system as it stands today. The report also sets the stage for initiating a fundamental discussion of the values of the health care system, in order to ensure a greater community of understanding between, on the one hand, the health care system, which in many ways is built around a number of Danish values and norms, and on the other hand, the Greenlandic population that the health service serves, where the focus is on the Greenlandic culture, community and worth.
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to provide an insight into how access to the health care system is experienced by citizens and what is important to citizens when they meet the health care system as users. Thus, the study provides us with an important basis for continuing to work on the development of a long-term and national design for increased user involvement and user evaluation in the Greenlandic healthcare system. A basis that is based on the citizens' own perspectives and that is culturally relevant.
Method
The study makes use of an exploratory qualitative design that includes semi-structured interviews and a Sharing Circle with users of the Greenlandic healthcare system. In addition, a systematic review of scientific literature has been carried out, and input from users has been reviewed in the two national newspapers Sermitsiaq and Atuagagdliutit/Grønlandsposten (AG) as well as posts on the social media Facebook.
The study is based on a participatory approach, which requires a close dialogue between researchers, users, patient associations and healthcare professionals. To ensure this, a reference group was set up at the start of the project with representatives from the health service and patient associations.
Project period
Summer 2019
Collaboration
Ministry of Health