Background: Few studies have investigated user involvement initiatives in whole organizations. The aim was to explore the experiences of professionals and user representatives taking part in the implementation of a user involvement plan.
Materials: A qualitative study in a mental health hospital included interviews and observational data.
Discussion: Three different stories emerged. The first described the implementation as a success. The second described the implementation as a success, but after overcoming several obstacles. The third described that the development plan had limited impact.
Conclusions: Close attention should be made to decision-making and resource allocation when implementing user involvement.
Keywords: User involvement; mental health services; organizational change; patient participation; user participation.
© The Author(s) 2013.