Patient participation — a review of the literature

? This article presents a critical review of the concept of patient participation. ? The concept of patient participation has become widely accepted in contemporary nursing practice. It is now part of the vocabulary of professional nurses and has been heralded as a means of enhancing decision making and human dignity and enriching quality of life. ? Patient participation in care is emerging as a growing movement wherein patients are assuming more responsibility for the prevention, detection and treatment of health problems in a manner that supplements or substitutes for professional services. ? The review concludes with some recommendations for nursing practice, education and research.