Macroenvironmental factors favouring the co-production of social and healthcare services for seniors in Poland

Purpose The aim of this paper is to improve our understanding of co-production contextual elements by analysing macroenvironmental factors favouring co-production of healthcare services for seniors in Poland. Design/methodology/approach The methods used were qualitative, comprising systematic literature review, individual in-depth interviews (IDI), and Delphi technique. Findings Consequently, I have identified 26 macroenvironmental factors that support the co-production of healthcare services for seniors in Poland. I divide these into three dimensions: (1) the development of civil society; (2) the effectiveness of the institutional system and (3) the development of new technologies. Research limitations/implications First, applied methodology prevents generalizability. Therefore, quantitative research should be conducted. Second, co-production in the healthcare area may assume many different forms, while the presented study relates to the healthcare service in general. Hence, one possible future research trajectory would be detailed studies concerning specific healthcare services. Third, since the co-production context matters, future research should focus on the specific national context. Practical implications To summarize our key findings, the study emphasizes the relevance of social, institutional and legislative factors, as well as the technology environment, in promoting healthcare service co-production in Poland. The highlighted variables provide a framework for practitioners to focus on developing trust and a tradition of collaboration with citizens, shaping the institutional setting and prudently utilizing new technology. Even if they are provided with tools, whether legal or technical, the crucial question is how they will use them and if this usage will foster co-production. Originality/value Although everyone agrees that co-production is context-dependent, the investigation of contextual elements has not been comprehensive. This article identifies the macroenvironmental factors, but it also proposes their novel thematization. Furthermore, it examines the dynamics at play in relation to the conditions enhancing co-production in Poland. Co-production studies are frequent in Western literature, while less so in Central and Eastern European countries. This study addresses this gap.