PAM in the Netherlands: activation level of diabetic patients and the relation with quality of health care.
Hendriks, M., Rademakers, J. PAM in the Netherlands: activation level of diabetic patients and the relation with quality of health care. European Journal of Public Health: 2011, 21(suppl. 1), p. 40. Abstract. 4th European Public Health Conference: 'Public Health and Welfare - Welfare Development and Public Health' 9-12 november 2011, Copenhagen.
Background: The PAM has been proven to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure patient activation in the US and other countries and is used as a first step towards fully informed and involved patients. Given these promising results, the PAM has recently been introduced in the Netherlands. In other countries the focus has been on measuring patient activation in patient groups in which self-management is an important factor, such as diabetic patients. It is interesting to know whether activation levels of diabetic patients are comparable across countries. In addition, it has been suggested that the PAM score is related to the quality of care. So far, this hypothesis has not yet been tested. Methods: Over 8500 diabetes patients were asked to fill out the PAM and the CQI Diabetes. CQI Diabetes is a validated questionnaire on patient experiences with diabetic care. Results: Data are available in May. The activation level of diabetic patients and differences between patient subgroups will be determined. The Dutch PAM scores will be compared with PAM scores found in other countries in similar patient groups. Using regression analyses, we will investigate the relationship between activation level and patient experiences with diabetic care after controlling for relevant background variables. Conclusions: Based on the results we can conclude whether the PAM is also a valid instrument for measuring patient activation in the Netherlands. If so, the next step will be to evaluate interventions aimed at increasing the activation level of patients and the possible use of the instrument in the relationship between patient and healthcare providers. This should ultimately lead to a more efficient and better quality of care. (aut. ref.)
Background: The PAM has been proven to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure patient activation in the US and other countries and is used as a first step towards fully informed and involved patients. Given these promising results, the PAM has recently been introduced in the Netherlands. In other countries the focus has been on measuring patient activation in patient groups in which self-management is an important factor, such as diabetic patients. It is interesting to know whether activation levels of diabetic patients are comparable across countries. In addition, it has been suggested that the PAM score is related to the quality of care. So far, this hypothesis has not yet been tested. Methods: Over 8500 diabetes patients were asked to fill out the PAM and the CQI Diabetes. CQI Diabetes is a validated questionnaire on patient experiences with diabetic care. Results: Data are available in May. The activation level of diabetic patients and differences between patient subgroups will be determined. The Dutch PAM scores will be compared with PAM scores found in other countries in similar patient groups. Using regression analyses, we will investigate the relationship between activation level and patient experiences with diabetic care after controlling for relevant background variables. Conclusions: Based on the results we can conclude whether the PAM is also a valid instrument for measuring patient activation in the Netherlands. If so, the next step will be to evaluate interventions aimed at increasing the activation level of patients and the possible use of the instrument in the relationship between patient and healthcare providers. This should ultimately lead to a more efficient and better quality of care. (aut. ref.)
