What The Evidence Shows About Patient Activation: Better Health Outcomes And Care Experiences; Fewer Data On Costs

Abstract

Patient engagement is an increasingly important component of strategies to reform health care. In this article we review the available evidence of the contribution that patient activation-the skills and confidence that equip patients to become actively engaged in their health care-makes to health outcomes, costs, and patient experience. There is a growing body of evidence showing that patients who are more activated have better health outcomes and care experiences, but there is limited evidence to date about the impact on costs. Emerging evidence indicates that interventions that tailor support to the individual's level of activation, and that build skills and confidence, are effective in increasing patient activation. Furthermore, patients who start at the lowest activation levels tend to increase the most. We conclude that policies and interventions aimed at strengthening patients' role in managing their health care can contribute to improved outcomes and that patient activation can-and should-be measured as an intermediate outcome of care that is linked to improved outcomes.

Patients With Limited Health Literacy Ask Fewer Questions During Office Visits With Hand Surgeons

“…However, they have shorter office visits [25], perhaps because of insufficient engagement. Asking questions during the medical encounter is essential to actively engage in one's health care, a concept known as patient activation (defined as the knowledge, skills, ability, and willingness to manage one's health care) [1,2,14]. Highly activated patients are more likely to participate in decision-making and have better health outcomes and care experiences at lower costs [10,14,15].…”

Improving patient engagement in self-measured blood pressure monitoring using a mobile health technology

“…The Institute of Medicine has defined patient engagement as a fundamental precursor to high-quality care, lower costs, and better health [1]. The evidence supporting the use of patient engagement techniques to improve satisfaction and outcomes is robust [3]. Likewise, some evidence suggest that patients more involved in their care incur fewer costs overall [4].…”

Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Disease: The IOC Consensus Statement, Lausanne 2013

“…Tools like patient activation measures help to stratify and individualize patient care by tailoring coaching, education, prevention, and care protocols to different patients at different levels of readiness [55]. Technological advances are readily available, such as pedometers or tracking devices, that may include sensors in smartphones, to provide important information about individual physical activity patterns [56].…”