Background: Patient-centred care (PCC) is considered a core framework for improving quality of care. Evidence on which PCC aspects are most relevant remains limited in Latin America, where health system fragmentation, inequalities, and constraints in access to services may shape priorities. Objective: To identify and describe viewpoints among patients and healthcare professionals in Peru on the most important aspects of PCC. Methods: Q methodology was used to examine viewpoints on PCC among patients and healthcare professionals in Lima, Peru. Participants ranked 30 statements reflecting the eight dimensions of PCC of the Picker Institute framework and available studies on PCC in low- and middle-income countries, and explained their ranking. Factor analysis was used to identify distinct viewpoints, which were interpreted based on composite rankings and qualitative data from the interviews. Results: Four viewpoints on PCC were identified. Across viewpoints, dignity and respectful treatment were consistently prioritised. Three viewpoints emphasised organisational and professional dimensions of care, particularly access to essential medication and equipment, timely responses to pain and treatment-related complications, and coordination and continuity of care. A fourth viewpoint prioritised relational dimensions, placing particular importance on emotional support and family involvement. Conclusion: Strengthening PCC in Peru may require attention to both relational and organisational dimensions of care. Dignity and respectful treatment emerged as shared foundational priorities, while access to essential medication and equipment and improved coordination and continuity across services were central to several viewpoints. These results differ from studies in Western countries and underline the importance of context-sensitive strategies for PCC.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 was followed by an unprecedented package of measures to protect public health. Over 150 countries mandated school closures to reduce the risk of transmission. Decisions on whether to close schools involve trade-offs between important effects on public health, learning outcomes, well-being of children, productivity of parents. Objectives: Investigate Peruvian citizens’ preferences for schools opening during a public-health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic in two scenarios: (i) when the threat from COVID-19 is low and schools are open; and, (ii) when the threat from COVID-19 is high and schools are closed. Methods: We conducted a Participatory Value Evaluation (PVE) from 22 September to 17 October 2022, on which 2007 respondents assessed which policy measures to implement in the two scenarios. (i) In Scenario 1 “Schools are open”, children go to school, teachers and parents go to their jobs, but children still experience learning deficits from previous school closures. (ii) In Scenario 2 “Schools are closed”, children cannot go to school and do not receive any formal teaching, leading to learning losses; many teachers must change careers; and, many parents have to stay at home to take care of their children and lose income. Respondents were shown a range of policy measures in each of the scenarios and received information about the effects of each measure on public health, children's well-being and learning loss. Results: We found that most respondents in Scenario 1 preferred mandatory vaccination for teachers and quarantine measures. In Scenario 2 we found that most respondents were positive towards reopening school policies. In both Scenarios respondents prioritized mandatory vaccination and quarantine measures over other mitigation measures. In Scenario 2, most respondents from the Highland region selected opening schools with 100% on-location teaching while hybrid teaching was mostly selected in the Coast region. Most respondents (82%) evaluated PVE as a good method to involve citizens in policy decision-making. Conclusions: Policies that focus on prevention (e.g. mandatory vaccination for teachers and quarantine measures) can count on substantial support in a scenario when schools are open. The strong preference for opening schools with a noticeable difference in the way classes are provided (e.g. teaching on location most preferred by respondents from the Highlands and hybrid teaching by respondents from the Coast) show the importance of introducing differentiated strategies among regions.