Abstract
Participation is a basic principle of health promotion and public health. Citizen and patient participation in health care is considered to be poor in Austria and the existing practice is not very visible. An explorative online survey was conducted among members of the Austrian Public Health Association. The aim was to identify the current state of participation of experts from experience ("affected persons") in research, strategy development and practice. 29 organisations working on participation were identified. The survey revealed participation practice was methodologically diverse. Orientation towards participatory models, as the lowest common denominator, can provide a basis for further exchange and shared learning of participation.