Exploring storylines on patient involvement in the Nordic welfare system: insights from Danish academic literature

Patient involvement (PI) has become a central focus within Nordic healthcare systems. However, the concept remains ambiguous and is interpreted differently across disciplines, which poses challenges for both research and practice. This study explores how PI is conceptualized in Danish academic literature published between 1990 and 2024. Using a scoping review and a meta-narrative approach, we identified three disciplinary storylines: Health Care; Organizational and Management; and Society. These storylines represent distinct yet overlapping logics concerning the roles of patients, professionals, and institutions, and operate at different analytical levels (micro, meso, and macro). By unpacking these narratives, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the assumptions and tensions embedded in the concept of PI. Our findings underline the importance of engaging critically with the theoretical foundations of PI and suggest directions for future empirical research that can explore how these divergent logics play out in practice.