We are pleased to announce a new publication by SCDI researchers Mäjt Wik, Daniel Curto-Millet, and Tomas Lindroth in the prestigious journal Government Information Quarterly. The article, titled “The policy-practice divide: How assumptions undermine authentic participation in digital public healthcare”, explores how unexamined assumptions in policy and practice hinder the transformation toward person-centered digital healthcare in Sweden.
Drawing on rich empirical material from Sweden’s Integrated and Close Care (ICC) reform, the authors highlight a critical disconnect between political visions and practical realities. Through a grounded and engaged research approach, the study uncovers how assumptions at the policy level often lead to tokenistic or instrumental participation, rather than the reciprocal partnerships needed to leverage the full potential of digital technology.
The authors introduce a conceptual framework that illustrates how these misalignments manifest as different modes of participation—ranging from tokenism to authentic collaboration—and call for a reconfiguration of policy and managerial assumptions to support genuine patient involvement and digitally enabled care innovation.
The article contributes both theoretically and practically to the ongoing discourse on digital transformation in the public sector and offers valuable guidance for policymakers, healthcare managers, and researchers alike.
Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2025.102027