Who knows they have a treatment plan?

Abstract

Background: Guidelines for the effective care of chronic and complex conditions increasingly recommend developing treatment plans in collaboration with patients as one strategy in a coordinated approach to management. We examined the socio-demographic characteristics associated with the development of treatment plans for patients with asthma, diabetes or a cardiovascular condition to establish what proportion of patients with these conditions recalled being consulted in the plan's preparation. Method: Serial, cross-sectional population based surveys using computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) with 2,296 randomly selected adult participants with asthma, diabetes or a cardiovascular condition living in Queensland in 2006 and 2,203 adults with these conditions in 2008. Results: The proportion of patients with asthma, diabetes or a cardiovascular condition aware of having a treatment plan for their chronic condition increased almost two-fold between 2006 and 2008. Approximately half the respondents did not recall being asked for their input into the plan. Patients with a cardiovascular condition, older patients, and early school leavers were less likely to recall having a treatment plan. There were some variations when each condition was examined separately. Conclusion: Overall, the use of treatment plans and engagement of patients in their development remains low, particularly in those subgroups of the community who are most likely to benefit.