Informed Patients More Likely To Be Involved in Care, Report Finds
Low-income California residents are more likely to feel empowered and involved in their health care decisions when they have more information about their health condition and available treatment options, according to a report released Monday, HealthyCal reports (Weintrab, HealthyCal, 9/10).
The report is the second of two analyses of a survey conducted earlier this year by Langer Research Associates and funded by the Blue Shield of California Foundation (Blue Shield of California Foundation study, 9/10). The poll surveyed 1,024 low-income residents ages 19 to 64 between March 12 and April 18.
Key Findings of First Report
The first report found that many low-income state residents want a closer connection with their health care providers.
According to the first report, 80% of respondents said it is important to have someone at a health care facility who "knows you pretty well," but only 38% of respondents reported having such a connection (California Healthline, 7/9).
Key Findings of Second Report
According to the second report, 67% of respondents who said they feel informed about their health condition reported feeling very comfortable asking questions of their health care providers, compared with 33% of respondents who said they do not feel informed about their health condition.
The second report found that:
- Among respondents who said they feel highly informed about their health condition, nearly 70% reported feeling very confident in their ability to make decisions about their health care;
- Among those who said they feel less than highly informed, 44% reported feeling very confident in their ability to make health care decisions;
- Among those who said they feel highly informed, 61% reported always understanding their physician's instructions; and
- Among those who said they feel "somewhat informed," 34% reported always understanding their physician's instructions.
The second report also found that about 33% of respondents who reported not following a provider's advice or treatment said they did so because they did not understand what to do.
Additional Findings of Second Report
According to the second report, individuals who are more comfortable asking questions of their providers, understand their providers' instructions and are confident in their own ability to make decisions are more likely to be involved in their health care.
The second report also found that:
- Among respondents who said they feel very informed about their health condition, 83% said they have a role in their health care decisions; and
- Among those who said they lack information about their health, 55% said they have a role in their health care decisions.
According to the second report, feeling informed about their health condition and confident in playing a role in their health care decisions is a stronger predictor of a patient's level of engagement than their:
- Choice of health facility;
- Education;
- Income;
- Gender;
- Language spoken at home; and
- Race or ethnicity (HealthyCal, 9/10).
Peter Long -- president and CEO of the Blue Shield of California Foundation -- in a statement said, "Most of what ultimately makes a person healthy happens away from the doctor's office," adding, "The more we can engage patients to be partners in their own care, the healthier they -- and our entire health care system -- will be" (McKinney, Modern Healthcare, 9/10).
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