Table 1 Core activities in the health care region’s implementation strategy and description of activities

Legitimacy for the work process

Created through the adoption of the policy and the health care region’s political strategic plan and steering document. The CEO of the regional health care system and the politicians in the steering board supported the process.

Dissemination of knowledge

A series of three full-day learning seminars was arranged by the Department for Healthcare Development. Frontline and senior managers identified participants among their employees to the inter-professional teams that took part in the seminars. Sessions were led by representatives from the Department for Healthcare Development, stakeholders in the health care region, external researchers and patient representatives.

The seminars included:

• Lectures about PCC based on the model suggested by the University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-centred Care [34]: its philosophical and ethical underpinnings, the three core components and research findings from evaluations of PCC, e.g. shorter length of hospital, increased quality of life and relief of symptoms.

• Presentations by representatives from a number of the health care units in the region and other stakeholders about how PCC could be practiced.

• Lectures about methods for quality improvement, e.g. use of PDSA cycles.

• Lectures about how E-health applications could support PCC.

In addition, each seminar day included workshops with time to share reflections and experiences within the teams regarding their understanding of PCC, how it could be practices and implemented at the own unit.

Support to managers, leaders and health professionals

Senior managers and representatives from the health care staff unions discussed supportive efforts with managers and health professionals during the implementation of more PCC.