[Participation of patient advocates in decision-making on the regulation of medical services in Germany. The perspective of patient advocates in the Federal Joint Committee and in the Federal Office of Quality Assurance].

Since 2004 patient advocates have taken part in counseling on the service catalogue in the Federal Joint Committee and since 2005 on quality assurance of hospital care in the Federal Office of Quality Assurance. The current study provides a first overview on the assessment of patient advocates with their contributions and influence on decisions and the satisfaction of their participation in the committees and boards of the self-governing bodies. There is evidence for necessary improvement both in the preparation for the function as a patient advocate as well as in the transparency of the decision-making in the Federal Joint Committee. The influence of patient advocates on decision-making is regarded as minor. The majority of the patient advocates registered for the Federal Office of Quality Assurance regard their participation as having little influence on the results in the expert committees despite the good possibilities of participation, the high acceptance and great satisfaction with the contribution. There is a vast interest for further on-the-job training. One can assume that further political reforms will result in changing the participation of patient advocates in the self-governing bodies. Therefore far reaching and continuous research to follow the further development of processes and results of participation is recommended.