Public service logic and determinants of value co-creation in healthcare

This paper applies Public Service Logic (PSL) to healthcare, exploring how value co-creation emerges through interactions among patients, clinicians, and public organizations. Moving beyond the limitations of New Public Management, the study adopts a service-dominant perspective emphasizing relational and experiential dimensions of value. Empirical research was conducted in two public hospital maternity and gynecology units, where the authors developed and validated the Patient Value Co-Creation Questionnaire (PVCOQ) to identify co-creation moments across pre-hospitalization, hospitalization, and post-discharge phases. Results show a strong correlation between patient involvement, communication quality, and perceived service value. The study contributes both conceptually and practically to understanding value co-creation in healthcare, highlighting its potential to enhance patient-centred, efficient, and publicly valuable health services.