Person-centeredness in Healthcare: Closing Crucial Knowledge Gaps

February 4, 2026 (13.00 – 17.00 CET; online)

April 8-10, 2026 (full days; in person)

June 3, 2026 (13.00 – 17.00 CEST; online)

Person-centeredness entails that those with an illness and/or experience as a healthcare service user (also referred to as ‘patients’) act as partners in decision-making regarding their own clinical care, biomedical research, and healthcare policy. However, despite numerous efforts, little progress has been made in truly establishing person-centeredness in healthcare, and a paradigm shift still needs to be realized. This is disappointing, since a truly person-centric approach is crucial for advancements in clinical care, biomedical research, and healthcare policy, especially when considering worldwide developments such as scarcity of available resources.

The failure to change could be attributed to an array of complicating factors and current lacunae in knowledge that transcend the boundaries of (scientific) disciplines. A unified vision and shared research agenda are needed to establish common ground, creative solutions, and synergetic power that exceeds the sum of its parts.

Workshop aim: To connect and explore the various knowledge gaps hindering achievement of true person-centeredness in healthcare, to identify research avenues to address these knowledge gaps, and work towards a grant proposal to perform such research. Ultimately, our work aims to enhance person-centeredness throughout healthcare.

The workshop will involve approximately 25 participants from various backgrounds and disciplines, including patients/patient representatives. Various elements and working formats are integrated throughout the program.