Validity of a New Patient Engagement Measure: The Altarum Consumer Engagement (ACE) Measure™

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to report on the validation of new scales [called the Altarum Consumer Engagement (ACE) Measure™] that are indicative of an individual’s engagement in health and healthcare decisions. The instrument was created to broaden the scope of how engagement is measured and understood, and to update the concept of engagement to include modern information sources, such as online health resources and ratings of providers and patient health.MethodsData were collected through an online survey with a US population of 2079 participants. A combination of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and detailed Rasch analyses were conducted to identify specific subscales of engagement. Results were compared to another commonly used survey instrument, and outcomes were compared for construct validity.ResultsThe PCA identified a four-factor structure composed of 21 items. The factors were named Commitment, Informed Choice, Navigation, and Ownership. Rasch analyses confirmed scale stability. Relevant outcomes were correlated in the expected direction, such as health status, lifestyle behaviors, medication adherence, and observed expected group differences.ConclusionsThis study confirmed the validity of the new ACE Measure™ and its utility in screening for and finding group differences in activities related to patient engagement and health consumerism, such as using provider comparison tools and asking about medical costs.

Visualization of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Data for Older Adults Using Participatory Design

“…At the prior focus groups, participants completed a survey that included: a demographics form, the Altarum Consumer Engagement (ACE) 27 scale, and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). 28 The 12-item ACE survey tool is a validated measure of patient engagement in which respondents use a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 ¼ strongly disagree, 5 ¼ strongly agree) to self-report health behaviors across three domains: Navigation (comfort/ skill using the health system), Commitment (capability to self-manage health), and Informed Choice (seeking out and acting upon health-related information).…”

“…28 The 12-item ACE survey tool is a validated measure of patient engagement in which respondents use a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 ¼ strongly disagree, 5 ¼ strongly agree) to self-report health behaviors across three domains: Navigation (comfort/ skill using the health system), Commitment (capability to self-manage health), and Informed Choice (seeking out and acting upon health-related information). 27 The NVS assesses health literacy by requiring respondents to interpret a nutri-tion label; those who correctly answer four or more of six questions are considered to have "adequate" literacy. 28 The PD session included nine participants.…”

Development and validation of an instrument to measure patient engagement in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China

“…Although the potential benefits of patient engagement have been largely recognized by a growing body of studies, 11 – 15 rapid changes and developments of supplies and demands of health care services cause significant challenges and difficulties to engaged patients in the health care system. 16 The key question, that is, how to engage patients in health and health care and a series of outstretched questions, such as which aspects encourage or impede patients to engage in health care, continue to explicitly or implicitly confuse regulators and academics. 1 , 17 In Hong Kong, 75% of the people aged ≥65 years and 45% of the people between 45 and 64 years are suffering from at least one or more chronic diseases.…”

Difficulty Hearing Is Associated With Low Levels of Patient Activation

“…“Patient activation” is a term that encompasses the knowledge, skills, and confidence that equip patients to participate actively in their healthcare . Higher activation is associated with more favorable processes of care, including greater use of preventive care, less delay in seeking needed care, and greater medication adherence . Among chronically ill patients, those with higher activation scores are more likely to follow through on recommended treatments and self‐manage their conditions .…”

“…1 Higher activation is associated with more favorable processes of care, including greater use of preventive care, 2-6 less delay in seeking needed care, 6,7 and greater medication adherence. 8 Among chronically ill patients, those with higher activation scores are more likely to follow through on recommended treatments and selfmanage their conditions. 1,2,9 Greater activation is associated with fewer emergency department visits 3 and lower likelihood of hospital readmission at 30 days.…”