Health Canada Policy Toolkit for Public Involvement in Decision Making

This toolkit, for policy makers and healthcare providers, provides principles, guidelines and information for effective involvement of citizens, including patients and families, in decision making regarding healthcare priorities, policies, and programs. Engaging the public, like patients and families, in the decision making results in stronger policies, programs and overall healthcare outcomes. Although this toolkit is meant for government decision making, the practical guidelines for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating a range of public involvement techniques can be adapted to any healthcare organization. In addition, the toolkit includes cases studies using different techniques in increasing public involvement in decision making.