Welcome to Center for Advancing Health

CFAH Media Contact: Kafi Grigsby kgrigsby@cfah.org 202-387-2829

WASHINGTON — May 20, 2010, When it comes to taking actions to benefit from their health care, a new analysis released today from the Center for Advancing Health (CFAH) found that American adults are not doing nearly enough. Only one-third of American adults consistently perform the types of actions needed; one-third perform them inconsistently or tentatively; and one-third do not perform them at all.

The Snapshot of People’s Engagement in Their Health Care analyzes Americans’ engagement in health care based on responses to questions from more than 31 surveys conducted by the federal government, private organizations and foundations between 2001 and 2009.

“Having health insurance is just one factor in finding and using safe, decent health care. Regardless of insurance status, most Americans aren’t doing enough to participate in their care,” said CFAH president and founder Jessie Gruman, Ph.D., author of AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You – or Someone You Love – a Devastating Diagnosis. “No matter how rich the benefit plan, if people don’t participate actively in their care, they will lose out. For individuals, that means more preventable illness, less-effective care, higher out-of-pocket costs and a diminished quality of life. At a societal level, it means wasted resources, worse outcomes and more disparities.”

At a briefing held today in Washington, D.C., Gruman and other experts highlighted how the analysis can help consumer advocates, provider organizations and policymakers – all of whom need quantitative information to document the poor state of patient engagement in the U.S. and practical tools to help people improve their health care experience.

“With the passage of health reform and millions of people entering the health care system, the patient’s role in health care is changing. Sick or well, people are required to participate more actively in their own care and that of their loved ones,” said Gruman. “While we know most people aren’t doing enough, we also know that a lot of us simply don’t know what to do.”

The analysis shows that while most Americans are not engaged in their health care, those least likely to participate have less education, marginal health literacy, lower incomes, multiple chronic conditions and lack health insurance. However, the analysis also reveals a common lack of participation among those who face none of these barriers. The Snapshot reveals five patterns of health engagement behaviors:

1. Many people prefer not to engage or don’t know how. While the lack of resources, insurance coverage, low literacy levels and illness present real barriers to participation for some, lack of engagement is common among those who face none of them.

2. The depth of consumer participation is shallow. For instance, more people seek out information about a provider or health plan than those who actually use the information to make a choice.

3. People look for health information and advice when there is a specific need. Participation in health care is highest when a health situation arises – ‘just in time’ – but nevertheless too late to be of optimal benefit.

4. People of all ages use the Internet to learn about their health and health care. More research is needed to know whether this behavior increases engagement or if it takes the place of more traditional information-seeking and record-keeping, like doctor visits, telephone calls and paper-based medical records.

5. People tend to perform simple tasks, but shy away from taking complex action. Patients are far more likely to make a list of current medications, for example, than make informed decisions about treatment options.

In response to the analysis findings, CFAH created a series of tools and resources to help patients and their advocates better participate in their health care on a website designed to provide ‘just in time’ information and resources about how to find and use safe, decent care.

Unveiled today, the Prepared Patient Forum provides guidance to help people get the most out of their health care, including ensuring that information about their care is shared among their different doctors, asking questions when explanations or next steps are not clear and evaluating recommended screening tests or treatment decisions with their health care providers.

What people must do to benefit from their care is clearly explained and provided in 10 easy-to-navigate categories, from ‘Finding Safe Care’ to ‘Making Good Treatment Decisions’ to ‘Organizing Your Care.’ All materials are housed on a new interactive website, www.preparedpatient.org.

About the Center for Advancing Health (CFAH)
The Center for Advancing Health (CFAH) is committed to creating an America where everyone is prepared to live a healthy life and make good choices about health and health care. Since 1992, CFAH has worked to translate complex scientific evidence into information, policies and programs that will ensure that each person can make good decisions about their health and interact effectively with their health care providers. CFAH is an independent non-profit organization that is supported by a number of foundations (principally the Annenberg Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation) and individuals. For additional information visit: www.cfah.org.

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