Governmentality as a Relevant Idea for the Study of Healthcare Networks: A Scoping Review

Abstract

As the increasingly employed concept of “governmentality” refers to diverse ideas, the authors present a state of the science assessment of its use in the study of healthcare networks. The review covers 17 databases over a 42-year period between 1975 and 2017 and identifies 1673 records, of which 98 are fully assessed and 38 meet inclusion criteria. It shows three usages of the concept: as an epistemology, as a framework, and as a specific form of governance. The review contributes to clarifying the usage, definitions, and concepts of governmentality in the existing literature on healthcare networks. The authors argue for the value of this multi-level theoretical ensemble to improve understanding of healthcare networks, particularly in relation to the implementation of mandated reforms across healthcare boundaries.