Patient Activation Intervention Research Articles

Feasibility and acceptability of patient- and clinician-level antithrombotic stewardship interventions to reduce gastrointestinal bleeding risk in patients using warfarin (Anticoagulation with Enhanced Gastrointestinal Safety): a factorial randomized controlled pilot trial

BackgroundOveruse of antiplatelet therapy and underuse of gastroprotection contribute to preventable bleeding in patients taking anticoagulants. Objectives(1) Determine the feasibility of a factorial trial testing patient activation and clinician outreach to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding risk in patients prescribed warfarin–antiplatelet therapy without proton pump inhibitor gastroprotection and (2) assess intervention acceptability. MethodsPragmatic 2 × 2 factorial cluster-randomized controlled pilot comparing (1) a patient activation booklet vs usual care and (2) clinician notification vs clinician notification plus nurse facilitation was performed. The primary feasibility outcome was percentage of patients completing a structured telephone assessment after 5 weeks. Exploratory outcomes, including effectiveness, were evaluated using chart review, surveys, and semistructured interviews. ResultsAmong 47 eligible patients, 35/47 (74.5%; 95% CI, 58.6%-85.7%) met the feasibility outcome. In the subset confirmed to be high risk for upper GI bleeding, 11/29 (37.9%; 95% CI, 16.9%-64.7%) made a medication change, without differences between intervention arms. In interviews, few patients reported reviewing the activation booklet; barriers included underestimating GI bleeding risk, misunderstanding the booklet’s purpose, and receiving excessive health communication materials. Clinicians responded to notification messages for 24/47 patients (51.1%; 95% CI, 26.4%-75.4%), which was lower for surgeons than nonsurgeons (22.7% vs 76.0%). Medical specialists but not surgeons viewed clinician notification as acceptable. ConclusionThe proposed trial design and outcome ascertainment strategy were feasible, but the patient activation intervention is unlikely to be effective as designed. While clinician notification appears promising, it may not be acceptable to surgeons, findings which support further refinement and testing of a clinician notification intervention.

A patient activation intervention in primary care for patients with chronic pain on long term opioid therapy: results from a randomized control trial

BackgroundGiven significant risks associated with long-term prescription opioid use, there is a need for non-pharmacological interventions for treating chronic pain. Activating patients to manage chronic pain has the potential to improve health outcomes. The ACTIVATE study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-session patient activation intervention in primary care for patients on long-term opioid therapy.MethodsThe two-arm, pragmatic, randomized trial was conducted in two primary care clinics in an integrated health system from June 2015—August 2018. Consenting participants were randomized to the intervention (n = 189) or usual care (n = 187). Participants completed online and interviewer-administered surveys at baseline, 6- and 12- months follow-up. Prescription opioid use was extracted from the EHR. The primary outcome was patient activation assessed by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Secondary outcomes included mood, function, overall health, non-pharmacologic pain management strategies, and patient portal use. We conducted a repeated measure analysis and reported between-group differences at 12 months.ResultsAt 12 months, the intervention and usual care arms had similar PAM scores. However, compared to usual care at 12 months, the intervention arm demonstrated: less moderate/severe depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.40, 95%CI 0.18–0.87); higher overall health (OR = 3.14, 95%CI 1.64–6.01); greater use of the patient portal’s health/wellness resources (OR = 2.50, 95%CI 1.42–4.40) and lab/immunization history (OR = 2.70, 95%CI 1.29–5.65); and greater use of meditation (OR = 2.72; 95%CI 1.61–4.58) and exercise/physical therapy (OR = 2.24, 95%CI 1.29–3.88). At 12 months, the intervention arm had a higher physical health measure (mean difference 1.63; 95%CI: 0.27–2.98).ConclusionThis trial evaluated the effectiveness of a primary care intervention in improving patient activation and patient-reported outcomes among adults with chronic pain on long-term opioid therapy. Despite a lack of improvement in patient activation, a brief intervention in primary care can improve outcomes such as depression, overall health, non-pharmacologic pain management, and engagement with the health system.Trial RegistrationThe study was registered on 10/27/14 on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02290223).

The Effect of a Patient Activation Tailored Intervention on Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management and Clinical Outcomes: A Study from Saudi Arabian Primary Care Settings.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global public health challenge. T2DM self-management, including diet, physical activity, blood glucose self-monitoring, foot care, and adherence to medication, is considered a primary tool for managing diabetes. Patient activation, an individual's knowledge, skill, and confidence in managing their health and healthcare, was recognized to be associated with better T2DM self-management and clinical outcomes. Patient activation intervention has been described as a potential approach for enhancing chronic disease self-management. This study is aimed at examining the effect of a patient activation-tailored intervention on T2DM self-management and clinical outcomes in primary care settings in Saudi Arabia. A pre- and postintervention study was conducted among ≥18 years old T2DM patients attending primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia. Collected data included demographics, clinical data, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), the diabetes knowledge test (DKT2), the problem area in diabetes test (PAID-5), and the diabetes quality of life test (DQOL). The intervention was tailored based on the participants' patient activation level. The intervention consisted of monthly face-to-face sessions for three months and a telephone follow-up per month for three months postintervention. Descriptive statistics, a paired sample t-test for scale variables, and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test for categorical variables were used for data analysis. A total of 82 patients, mostly female (61%) with a mean age of 51.3 ± 9.9 years old, completed baseline and postintervention surveys. After six months of intervention, there was a significant change in patient activation score from 54.74 to 61.58 (p < 0.001), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from 8.38 to 7.55 (p < 0.001), and body mass index (BMI) from 30.90 to 29.16 (p < 0.001). Also, there was a significant change in SDSCA scores (diet from 3.12 to 3.67, exercise from 2.54 to 3.49, and blood glucose self-testing from 2.37 to 3.24) (p < 0.001) and DKT from 6.29 to 7.22 (p = 0.01). Our findings suggested that tailoring interventions based on patients' activation levels is more likely to yield promising T2DM self-management and clinical outcomes.

Patterns of Health Care Use 5 Years After an Intervention Linking Patients in Addiction Treatment With a Primary Care Practitioner

Substance use disorders are associated with high rates of emergency department (ED) use and challenges engaging with primary care services. To examine 5-year health care engagement and utilization outcomes for participants in the LINKAGE trial, given previously reported associations of LINKAGE with improved care engagement in the short term. In this post hoc analysis of a nonrandomized controlled trial, participants were assigned to the LINKAGE or usual care (UC) groups using a nonrandomized 3-month alternating off and on strategy over 30 months. Baseline through 5-year follow-up data were collected from April 2011 to October 2018. The trial was conducted at an urban outpatient addiction treatment clinic within a large health system among patients newly enrolled in addiction treatment. Data analysis was conducted from April 2021 to February 2022. The LINKAGE intervention included 6 group-based sessions emphasizing patient agency, skill, and motivation in navigating health care services as well as a facilitated telephone or email connection with a primary care practitioner. The UC group received medical education. Substance use problem discussions with primary care practitioners (by patient self-report at 1-, 2-, and 5-year follow-up interview) and annual use of the electronic patient portal, primary care, and ED based on electronic health records. A total of 503 participants, with a mean (SD) age of 42 (12) years, 346 (69%) male participants and 37 (7%) African American, 34 (7%) Asian, and 101 (20%) Hispanic participants, were assigned to LINKAGE (252 participants) or UC (251 participants). Compared with UC participants, LINKAGE participants were significantly more likely to discuss substance use problems with a primary care practitioner at 1-year follow-up (risk ratio [RR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.03-1.65; P = .03) and use the electronic patient portal at 1- and 2-year follow-up (eg, messaging clinicians at 2 years: RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04-1.47; P = .02). The LINKAGE group had small, statistically significant 5-year annual increases in primary care use (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.003-1.07; P = .03) and significant annual decreases in substance-related ED use (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97; P = .03), relative to UC. The LINKAGE group did not significantly differ from the UC group on other types of ED utilization. In this study, a patient activation intervention embedded in outpatient addiction treatment was associated with sustained improvements in health care engagement beyond previously reported 6-month outcomes and with long-term improvements in health care use patterns. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01621711.

Improving diabetic patients’ adherence to treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (Office Guidelines Applied to Practice—IMPACT Study)—a cluster randomized controlled effectiveness trial

BackgroundDespite nationwide improvements in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity, CVD deaths in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are 2–4 times higher than among those without T2DM. A key contributor to these poor health outcomes is medication non-adherence. Twenty-one to 42% of T2DM patients do not take blood sugar, blood pressure (BP), or statin medications as prescribed. Interventions that foster and reinforce patient-centered communication show promise in improving health outcomes. However, they have not been widely implemented, in part due to a lack of compelling evidence for their effectiveness in real-life primary care settings.MethodsThis pragmatic cluster-randomized trial randomizes 17 teams in 12 Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs) to two experimental groups: intervention (group 1): Office-Gap + Texting vs. control (group 2): Texting only. Office-GAP (Office-Guidelines Applied to Practice) is a patient activation intervention to improve communication and patient-provider partnerships through brief patient and provider training in shared decision-making (SDM) and use of a guideline-based checklist. The texting intervention (Way2Health) is a cell phone messaging service that informs and encourages patients to adhere to goals, adhere to medication use and improve communication. After recruitment, patients in groups 1 and 2 will both attend (1) one scheduled group visit, (90–120 min) conducted by trained research assistants, and (2) follow-up visits with their providers after group visit at 0–1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Data will be collected over 12-month intervention period. Our primary outcome is medication adherence measured using eCAP electronic monitoring and self-report. Secondary outcomes are (a) diabetes-specific 5-year CVD risk as measured with the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Engine score, (b) provider engagement as measured by the CollaboRATE Shared-Decision Making measure, and (c) patient activation measures (PAM).DiscussionThis study will provide a rigorous pragmatic evaluation of the effectiveness of combined mHealth, and patient activation interventions compared to mHealth alone, targeting patients and healthcare providers in safety net health centers, in improving medication adherence and decreasing CVD risk. Given that 20–50% of adults with chronic illness demonstrate medication non-adherence, increasing adherence is essential to improve CVD outcomes as well as healthcare cost savings.Trial registrationThe ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT04874116.

Evaluation of a program for routine implementation of shared decision-making in cancer care: results of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial

BackgroundShared decision-making (SDM) is preferred by many patients in cancer care. However, despite scientific evidence and promotion by health policy makers, SDM implementation in routine health care lags behind. This study aimed to evaluate an empirically and theoretically grounded implementation program for SDM in cancer care.MethodsIn a stepped wedge design, three departments of a comprehensive cancer center sequentially received the implementation program in a randomized order. It included six components: training for health care professionals (HCPs), individual coaching for physicians, patient activation intervention, patient information material/decision aids, revision of quality management documents, and reflection on multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs). Outcome evaluation comprised four measurement waves. The primary endpoint was patient-reported SDM uptake using the 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire. Several secondary implementation outcomes were assessed. A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted to evaluate reach and fidelity. Data were analyzed using mixed linear models, qualitative content analysis, and descriptive statistics.ResultsA total of 2,128 patient questionnaires, 559 questionnaires from 408 HCPs, 132 audio recordings of clinical encounters, and 842 case discussions from 66 MDTMs were evaluated. There was no statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint SDM uptake. Patients in the intervention condition were more likely to experience shared or patient-lead decision-making than in the control condition (d=0.24). HCPs in the intervention condition reported more knowledge about SDM than in the control condition (d = 0.50). In MDTMs the quality of psycho-social information was lower in the intervention than in the control condition (d = − 0.48). Further secondary outcomes did not differ statistically significantly between conditions. All components were implemented in all departments, but reach was limited (e.g., training of 44% of eligible HCPs) and several adaptations occurred (e.g., reduced dose of coaching).ConclusionsThe process evaluation provides possible explanations for the lack of statistically significant effects in the primary and most of the secondary outcomes. Low reach and adaptations, particularly in dose, may explain the results. Other or more intensive approaches are needed for successful department-wide implementation of SDM in routine cancer care. Further research is needed to understand factors influencing implementation of SDM in cancer care.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, NCT03393351, registered 8 January 2018.

An Electronically Delivered, Patient-activation Tool for Intensification of Chronic Medications for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: The Epic-hf Trial

Introduction Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) recommends a combined regimen of beta blockers, ACE-I/ARB/ARNI, and mineralocorticoid receptor agents for optimal treatment of patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF). Unfortunately, data from numerous heart failure registries show that HFrEF patients by-and-large continue to remain on suboptimal therapy. Interventions to improve medication plans often target either patient adherence or provider prescribing methods, with mixed results. This suggests that a more novel approach—in which provider and patient are equally involved—may be necessary to incite change. Hypothesis Aspects of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) methods and Shared Decision Making models can be harnessed to encourage patients to engage providers in HFrEF prescribing decisions. This in turn may improve use of guideline-directed medical therapies. Methods Using DTC and Shared Decision Making models as our framework (Figure 1), we developed a user-friendly patient activation intervention—a 3-minute video and a HFrEF medication checklist—to encourage patients to discuss with their provider “one thing” that can be done to improve their medication plan. Patients were enrolled across three medical centers within the UCHealth medical system, and randomized to either intervention or control arms. Data on HFrEF medication prescribing and dosing was collected at enrollment, at time of intervention, and at 1-and-6 months from intervention. Results 305 patients were enrolled in total. At time of enrollment, 8.5% were on GDMT at suboptimal doses; only one patient (.3%) was on GDMT at target doses. Conclusions Our baseline results highlight the clear need for effective interventions to improve HFrEF prescribing. If successful, our intervention is simple enough to be adapted and implemented across a multitude of settings.

Effect of a patient activation intervention on hypertension medication optimization: results from a randomized clinical trial.

To examine the effect of a patient activation intervention with financial incentives to promote switching to a thiazide in patients with controlled hypertension using calcium channel blockers (CCBs). The Veterans Affairs Project to Implement Diuretics, a randomized clinical trial, was conducted at 13 Veterans Affairs primary care clinics. Patients (n = 236) with hypertension previously controlled using CCBs were randomized to a control group (n = 90) or 1 of 3 intervention groups designed to activate patients to talk with their primary care providers about switching to thiazides: Group A (n = 53) received an activation letter, group B (n = 42) received a letter plus a financial incentive to discuss switching from a CCB to a thiazide, and group C (n = 51) received a letter, a financial incentive, and a telephone call encouraging patients to speak with their primary care providers. The primary outcome was thiazide prescribing at the index visit. At the index visit, the rate of switching to a thiazide was 1.1% in the control group and 9.4% (group A), 26.2% (group B), and 31.4% (group C) for the intervention groups (P < .0001). In adjusted analysis, patients randomized to group C were significantly more likely to switch from a CCB to thiazide at the index visit (odds ratio, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.45-11.84; P < .01). This low-cost, low-intensity patient activation intervention resulted in increased rates of switching to a thiazide in those whose hypertension was controlled using another medication, suggesting that such interventions may be used to overcome medication optimization challenges, including clinical inertia.

Association of patient preferences on medication discussion in hypertension: Results from a randomized clinical trial.

Patient-centered care has received significant attention and is an integral component of high-quality healthcare. While it is often assumed that most prefer a patient-centered role orientation, such preferences exist along a continuum with some patients preferring a more provider-centered role. The present study examines patient preference data from a randomized clinical trial designed to test the efficacy of a patient activation intervention to promote thiazide prescribing for veteran patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Patient preferences for involvement in healthcare were assessed using the 9-item Sharing subscale of the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS). The primary aim was to examine differences in discussion of thiazide use in the clinical encounter by those scoring high versus low on the PPOS. Five hundred ninety-five veteran patients were randomized to either one of three intervention groups or a usual care control group. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the three intervention groups relative to the control group indicated that thiazide discussion increased as a function of intervention intensity across both high and low PPOS groups. ORs for the most intensive intervention group were 3.72 (95% CI=1.61-8.65, p<.01) for high PPOS patients and 6.71 (95% CI=2.59-10.67, p<.001) for low PPOS patients. Results suggest that this patient activation intervention is effective for veteran patients representing a range of preferred involvement. Consideration of such preferences may be useful in tailoring future interventions in the healthcare context.

The Effect of a Tailored Patient Activation Intervention in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Purpose A pre-test, post-test, control group design was employed to investigate the impact of a tailored patient activation intervention (PAI) among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods Patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected from medical records via convenience sampling, were consented, and completed a baseline survey. Based on responses to the baseline 13-item patient activation measure (PAM-13), they were categorized into one of four patient activation stages. During office visits, intervention patients (N=23) were given a tailored PAI based on their baseline stage, which consisted of an information booklet and focused discussion with the gastroenterologist, while the control group (N=27) received usual care. Baseline and 1-month post-intervention scores were compared between the intervention (N=20) and control (N=21) groups for changes in patient activation score, medication adherence, and satisfaction with care. Results Most participants were Caucasian (88%), female (64%), college graduates (56%), and had Crohn's disease (59.2%). Overall, females had a significantly higher (p=0.04) mean activation score (mean=70.9±15.4) than males (mean=60.9±10.7) at baseline. This trend was the same post-intervention (75.6 females vs 64.4 males; p=0.03). The difference in mean activation scores pre- vs post-intervention was not statistically significant between the intervention and control groups (mean=4.9±12.3, p=0.21). However, this difference could be considered to be clinically significant based on results from previous studies. There were no significant differences in medication adherence or satisfaction scores pre- vs post-intervention for either group. Conclusion Tailored PAIs have the potential to increase activation level of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This customized medical interaction increased patient involvement in disease management and could potentially lead to improved health outcomes.

"Get Ready and Empowered About Treatment" (GREAT) Study: a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of Activation in Persons Living with HIV.

Little is known about strategies to improve patient activation, particularly among persons living with HIV (PLWH). To assess the impact of a group intervention and individual coaching on patient activation for PLWH. Pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Eight practices in New York and two in New Jersey serving PLWH. Three hundred sixty PLWH who received care at participating practices and had at least limited English proficiency and basic literacy. Six 90-min group training sessions covering use of an ePersonal Health Record loaded onto a handheld mobile device and a single 20-30min individual pre-visit coaching session. The primary outcome was change in Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Secondary outcomes were changes in eHealth literacy (eHEALS), Decision Self-efficacy (DSES), Perceived Involvement in Care Scale (PICS), health (SF-12), receipt of HIV-related care, and change in HIV viral load (VL). The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement than the control group in the primary outcome, the PAM (difference 2.82: 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32-5.32). Effects were largest among participants with lowest quartile PAM at baseline (p < 0.05). The intervention doubled the odds of improving one level on the PAM (odds ratio 1.96; 95% CI 1.16-3.31). The intervention group also had significantly greater improvement in eHEALS (difference 2.67: 95% CI 1.38-3.9) and PICS (1.27: 95% CI 0.41-2.13) than the control group. Intervention effects were similar by race/ethnicity and low education with the exception of eHealth literacy where effects were stronger for minority participants. No statistically significant effects were observed for decision self-efficacy, health status, adherence, receipt of HIV relevant care, or HIV viral load. The patient activation intervention modestly improved several domains related to patient empowerment; effects on patient activation were largest among those with the lowest levels of baseline patient activation. This study is registered at Clinical Trials.Gov (NCT02165735).

Patient activation intervention to facilitate participation in recovery after total knee replacement (MIME): a cluster randomised cross-over trial

BackgroundPatient participation in care is a fundamental element of safe and high-quality healthcare with the potential to enhance health outcomes and improve patient satisfaction.ObjectivesTo test the efficacy of a clinician-facilitated,...

Efficacy of Patient Activation Interventions With or Without Financial Incentives to Promote Prescribing of Thiazides and Hypertension Control

ImportanceEvidence-based guidelines recommend thiazide diuretics as a first-line therapy for uncomplicated hypertension; however, thiazides are underused, and hypertension remains inadequately managed.ObjectiveTo test the efficacy of a patient activation intervention with financial incentives to promote thiazide prescribing.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe Veterans Affairs Project to Implement Diuretics, a randomized clinical trial, was conducted at 13 Veterans Affairs primary care clinics from August 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, with 12 months of follow-up. A total of 61 019 patients were screened to identify 2853 eligible patients who were not taking a thiazide and not at their blood pressure (BP) goal; 598 consented to participate. Statistical analysis was conducted from December 1, 2017, to September 12, 2018.InterventionsPatients were randomized to a control group (n = 196) or 1 of 3 intervention groups designed to activate patients to talk with their primary care clinicians about thiazides and hypertension: group A (n = 143) received an activation letter, group B (n = 128) received a letter plus a financial incentive, and group C (n = 131) received a letter, financial incentive, and a telephone call encouraging patients to speak with their primary care clinicians.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPrimary outcomes were thiazide prescribing and BP control. A secondary process measure was discussion between patient and primary care clinician about thiazides.ResultsAmong 598 participants (588 men and 10 women), the mean (SD) age for the combined intervention groups (n = 402) was 62.9 (8.8) years, and the mean baseline BP was 148.1/83.8 mm Hg; the mean (SD) age for the control group (n = 196) was 64.1 (9.2) years, and the mean baseline BP was 151.0/83.4 mm Hg. At index visits, the unadjusted rate of thiazide prescribing was 9.7% for the control group (19 of 196) and 24.5% (35 of 143) for group A, 25.8% (33 of 128) for group B, and 32.8% (43 of 131) for group C (P < .001). Adjusted analyses demonstrated an intervention effect on thiazide prescribing at the index visit and 6-month visit, which diminished at the 12-month visit. For BP control, there was a significant intervention effect at the 12-month follow-up for group C (adjusted odds ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.06-2.83; P = .04). Intervention groups exhibited improved thiazide discussion rates in a dose-response fashion: group A, 44.1% (63 of 143); group B, 56.3% (72 of 128); and group C, 68.7% (90 of 131) (P = .004).Conclusions and RelevanceThis patient activation intervention about thiazides for hypertension resulted in two-thirds of patients having discussions and nearly one-third initiating a prescription of thiazide. Adding a financial incentive and telephone call to the letter resulted in incremental improvements in both outcomes. By 12 months, improved BP control was also evident. This low-cost, low-intensity intervention resulted in high rates of discussions between patients and clinicians and subsequent thiazide treatment and may be used to promote evidence-based guidelines and overcome clinical inertia.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00265538

The Oral Health Needs of Wisconsin Farmers and the Need for Patient Activation: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level of oral health need of Wisconsin farmers based on sociodemographic variables, perceived oral health, and actual oral health, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a dental hygiene patient activation intervention. Methods: Oral health screenings were administered by calibrated dental hygienists to 60 Wisconsin farmers attending the 2016 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Study participants self-administered the Oral Health Inventory Profile-14 survey and participated in an Adult Basic Screening Survey. Validity and reliability of both instruments have been established in previous studies. A follow-up phone call for Wisconsin farmers with a moderate- to high-risk oral health condition determined study participants followed the dental hygiene recommendations signified if study participants followed the dental hygiene recommendations and if patient activation had been achieved. Results: Study participants represented Wisconsin farmers (N = 60; n = 32 men, n = 28 women) with an average age range between 50 and 60 years old. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 survey results indicated that this group of Wisconsin farmers did not perceive themselves to have an oral health problem. The Adult Basic Screening Survey results also indicated that the majority of study participants did not currently have active oral disease. There were 32% (n = 19) who qualified for follow-up phone call, with 15% (n = 3) seeking oral health care based on the dental hygiene recommendation. Significant associations between sociodemographic variables and actual oral health were not found, and the null hypotheses were not rejected. Conclusions: Findings suggest that this group of Wisconsin farmers is receiving regular oral health care and patient activation despite literature suggesting that farmers and rural individuals might face unique barriers to health and oral health care.

The cost of a patient activation intervention for achieving successful outcomes: results from the PAADRN randomized controlled trial.

Pragmatic randomized controlled trials (RCTs) should focus on patient-centered outcomes and report the costs for achieving those outcomes. We calculated per person incremental intervention costs, the number-needed-to-treat (NNT), and incremental per patient costs (cost per NNT) for four patient-centered outcomes in a direct-to-patient bone healthcare intervention. The Patient Activation after DXA Result Notification (PAADRN) pragmatic RCT enrolled 7749 patients presenting for DXA at three health centers between February 2012 and August 2014. Interviews occurred at baseline and 52weeks post-DXA. Intervention subjects received an individually tailored DXA result letter accompanied by an educational bone health brochure 4weeks post-DXA, while the usual care subjects did not. Outcomes focused on patients (a) correctly identifying their results, (b) contacting their providers, (c) discussing their results with their providers, and (d) satisfaction with their bone healthcare. NNTs were determined using intention-to-treat linear probability models, per person incremental intervention costs were calculated, and costs per NNT were computed. Mean age was 66.6years old, 83.8% were women, and 75.3% were non-Hispanic whites. The incremental per patient cost (costs per NNT) to increase the ability of a patient to (a) correctly identify their DXA result was $171.07; (b) contact their provider about their DXA result was $222.75; (c) discuss their DXA result with their provider was $193.55; and (d) achieve a 0.5 SD improvement in satisfaction with their bone healthcare was $127.41. An individually tailored DXA result letter accompanied by an educational brochure can improve four patient-centered outcomes at a modest cost. clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01507662.

The effects of a patient activation intervention on smoking and excessive drinking cessations: results from the PAADRN randomized controlled trial.

Besides dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening and pharmacotherapy when indicated, beneficial bone health behaviors including proper calcium and vitamin D intake and weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise should be encouraged. Similarly, risky bone health behaviors like smoking and excessive drinking should be discouraged. We examined whether a direct-to-patient activation intervention led to smoking and excessive drinking cessations. The Patient Activation after DXA Result Notification (PAADRN) pragmatic clinical trial enrolled 7749 patients between February 2012 and August 2014. Interviews occurred at baseline and 12 and 52weeks later. Intervention subjects were mailed an individually tailored DXA results letter accompanied by a bone health educational brochure 4weeks post-DXA. Usual care subjects were not sent these materials. Smoking and excessive drinking were assessed by self-report at each interview. Intention-to-treat linear probability models were used. Mean age was 66.6years, 83.8% were women, and 75.3% were Non-Hispanic-Whites. Smoking was reported at baseline by 7.6% of the intervention group vs. 7.7% of the usual care group (p=0.873). Excessive drinking was reported at baseline by 6.5% of the intervention group vs. 6.5% of the usual care group (p=0.968). Intention-to-treat analyses indicated no significant differences between the intervention vs. usual care groups at either 12 or 52weeks post-DXA (all p values ≥0.346). An individually tailored DXA result letter accompanied by an educational brochure did not lead to smoking or excessive drinking cessations in patients who received DXA. clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01507662.

Intensity of exposure to a patient activation intervention and patient engagement in medical visit communication

ObjectiveWe examined associations between intensity of exposure to a community health worker (CHW) delivered communication activation intervention targeting low-income patients with hypertension. MethodsWe analyzed question-asking behaviors of patients assigned to the intervention arms (n=140) in a randomized controlled trial. Intensity of exposure to the intervention was operationalized as the duration of face-to-face coaching and number of protocol-specified topics discussed. Mixed effects models characterized the relationship between intensity of exposure and patients’ communication in a subsequent medical visit. ResultsThe number of topics discussed during the coaching session was positively associated with patients’ asking psychosocial-related questions during their visit. The duration of the coaching session was positively associated with patients’ use of communication engagement strategies to facilitate their participation in the visit dialogue. Exposure to a physician trained in patient-centered communication did not influence these relationships. ConclusionsA dose-response relationship was observed between exposure to a CHW- delivered communication activation intervention and patient-provider communication. Practice implicationsThis study supports the use of CHWs in activating patients toward greater communication in the therapeutic exchange.

Improving urban African Americans' blood pressure control through multi-level interventions in the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together (ACT) study: A randomized clinical trial

BackgroundGiven their high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure, urban African Americans comprise a particularly vulnerable subgroup of persons with hypertension. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the important role of family and community support in improving patients' management of a variety of chronic illnesses. However, studies of multi-level interventions designed specifically to improve urban African American patients' blood pressure self-management by simultaneously leveraging patient, family, and community strengths are lacking. Methods/designWe report the protocol of the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together (ACT) study, a randomized controlled trial designed to study the effectiveness of interventions that engage patient, family, and community-level resources to facilitate urban African American hypertensive patients' improved hypertension self-management and subsequent hypertension control. African American patients with uncontrolled hypertension receiving health care in an urban primary care clinic will be randomly assigned to receive 1) an educational intervention led by a community health worker alone, 2) the community health worker intervention plus a patient and family communication activation intervention, or 3) the community health worker intervention plus a problem-solving intervention. All participants enrolled in the study will receive and be trained to use a digital home blood pressure machine. The primary outcome of the randomized controlled trial will be patients' blood pressure control at 12months. DiscussionResults from the ACT study will provide needed evidence on the effectiveness of comprehensive multi-level interventions to improve urban African American patients' hypertension control.

A group-randomized trial of shared decision making for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug risk awareness: primary results and lessons learned.

Frequent use and serious adverse effects related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) underscore the need to raise patient awareness about potential risks. Partial success of patient- or provider-based interventions has recently led to interest in combined approaches focusing on both patient and physician. This research tested a shared decision-making intervention for increasing patient-reported awareness of NSAID risk. A group randomized trial was performed in Alabama from 2005 to 2007. Intervention group doctor practices received continuing medical education (CME) about NSAIDs and patient activation tools promoting risk assessment and communication during visits. Comparison group doctor practices received only CME. Cross-sectional data were collected before and after the intervention. Generalized linear latent and mixed models with logistic link tested relationships among the intervention, study phase, intervention by study phase interaction and patient-reported awareness of risks with either prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs. Three hundred and forty-seven patients at baseline and 355 patients at follow-up participated in this study. The intervention [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.74, P=0.248], follow-up study phase (AOR=1.31, P=0.300) and intervention by study phase interaction (AOR=0.98, P=0.942) were not significantly associated with patient-reported awareness of any prescription NSAID risk. Follow-up study phase was associated with increased odds of reporting any OTC NSAID risk awareness (AOR=2.99, P<0.001), but the patient activation intervention and intervention by study phase interaction were not significantly associated with patient-reported awareness of any OTC NSAID risk (AOR=0.98, P=0.929; AOR=0.87, P=0.693, respectively). Our point-of-care intervention encouraging shared decision making did not increase NSAID risk awareness.

Response to a patient activation intervention among Spanish-speaking patients at a community health center in New York City.

Patient activation describes an individual's readiness to participate in their health care. Lower levels of activation that may contribute to poor health outcomes have been documented in Latino patients. We administered a brief activating intervention directed at Spanish-speakers that sought to improve and encourage question-asking during a medical visit. We used quantitative measures of patient attitudes supplemented with open-ended questions to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention at a community health center. Post-intervention changes in the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and Decision Self-Efficacy (DSE) were measured. Both control and intervention group PAM scores changed significantly, but for those at lower levels of activation, only the intervention group showed significant gains. For the DSE the intervention group showed significant changes in scores. These findings, which are supported by the qualitative data, suggest that the intervention helped patients who may have difficulty asking questions during medical visits.