Commitment questions targeting patients promotes uptake of under-used health services: Findings from a national quality improvement program in Australia. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pratt, Nicole L.; Kalisch Ellett, Lisa M.; Sluggett, Janet K.; Ramsay, Emmae N.; Kerr, Mhairi; LeBlanc, Vanessa T.; Barratt, John D.; Roughead, Elizabeth E.
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 145(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Australia -- Behaviour change -- Health behaviour -- Health services -- Quality improvement -- Commitment -- Questionnaire -- Patients; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.09.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Rationale: Interventions asking patients to commit to speaking with their doctor about a health-related issue could be used to improve quality of care. Objective: To evaluate the impact of commitment questions targeting patients on the uptake of recommended health services within a national quality improvement program (Veterans' MATES). Methods: Patients targeted in the home medicines reviews (HMRs), dose administration aids (DAAs), renal function testing and diabetes interventions were posted educational information and response forms which asked whether they intended to talk to their general practitioner (GP) about the targeted service. Uptake of the service after each intervention was determined using health claims data. Log binomial regression models compared the monthly rate of service use in the nine months post-intervention among patients answering 'yes' to a commitment question with non-responders and patients answering 'no' or 'unsure'. Results: Each intervention targeted up to 58, 000 patients. The average response rate was 28%. Positive responses were associated with increased uptake of HMRs (rate ratio ( RR ) 2.64, 95% CI 2.39–2.92; p < 0.0001), dose administration aids ( RR 2.53, 95% CI 2.29–2.79; p < 0.0001), renal function tests ( RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.24; p < 0.0001), GP management plans ( RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14–1.48; p < 0.0001) and diabetes care plans ( RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.24–1.75; p < 0.0001) compared to non-responders. Similar increases in uptake were also observed among positive responders when compared to patients responding 'no' or 'unsure' to the commitment question. Conclusion: Positive responses to commitment questions distributed as part of national, multifaceted interventions were consistently associated with increased uptake of targeted services. Highlights: Asking people to commit to a behaviour may improve the quality of their healthcare. Consumers received educational materials & response forms with commitment questions. 28% of targeted patients responded to the commitment questions. Positive responses were associated with greater uptake of targeted health services. This simple, effective strategy can help to improve quality of care.