Definitions of patient and family engagement were lacking, as well as evidence regarding the types of patients who might feel comfortable engaging with providers, and in what contexts.
26 Barriers to patient and population engagement were lack of health literacy, knowledge and awareness about health services, 25 29 35 36 46–50 lack of opportunity for shared decision-making 38 and lack of trust and confidence in the healthcare providers.
This civic engagement, that many feel is lacking in wider society, helps build a common sense of belonging.
Despite the accumulating evidence demonstrating its potential, engagement via a positive deviance approach is lacking, or intermittent at best.
In a more optimistic note, patients who were in active vocations might feel more fulfilled when completing their jobs or attending job-related engagements which could be lacking if they were in the retirement phase.
It is important for advisory groups to be representative of the socio-economic makeup of the actual communities [ 53], yet guidelines for conducting community engagement are notably lacking [ 54].
"The idea that this series lacks emotional engagement is a rather superficial psychological argument," he says.
"Engagement is better than total lack of communication".
Lack of engagement is a problem.
