Empowered patient autonomy in the network in the selected area of theoretical reflection and empirical analysis

Abstract

The aim of the article is to perceive the understanding of autonomy by conscious, empowered patients through an awareness of responsibility for their own health and knowledge of their rights. This perception was made by analysing their statements published in 16 online medical forums and portals, which referred to the components of autonomy. One hundred and twenty-seven posts qualified for qualitative analysis. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that the authors of the posts (intuitively) properly identified autonomy (although they did not use this notion as such), paying attention to principal, formative qualities and inherent rights. They identify these qualities based on the course and characteristics of interactions between patients and healthcare practitioners (exposing their deficits), within the context of participants’ rights and duties as well as their opinions about physicians’ qualifications and desired (mainly soft) competences.

Keywords

• autonomy
• empowerment
• perception of empowerment
• empowered patient
• patient online
• network
• qualitative analysis