Hochhalter and associates tested the efficacy of a patient engagement intervention for older adults with multiple chronic illnesses. Seventy-nine participants were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (Intervention Group), contacts on a different topic (Safety Group), or Usual Care. The Intervention and Safety Groups attended a 2-hour workshop and participated in phone calls: one before and one after a naturally occurring medical encounter. The Intervention Group discussed patient engagement concepts from publicly distributed content. The Safety Group discussed general safety (e.g., fire safety, identity theft). Self-report measures were gathered by telephone interview at Baseline and 6-months following Baseline. The investigators did not find expected improvements in patient activation and health-related quality of life. However, the Intervention Group was the only group to show a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy for self-management.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The authors concluded that the intervention shows promise for improving quality of life and/or health, but requires refinement to reach persons not already engaged in their healthcare and to strengthen its effects.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A PATIENT: The study actually means little. The best design would have been to compare usual care against self-management. This would have resulted in more than an increase in self-efficacy. The authors should conduct such a study using a wider array of outcome measures in an investigation conducted over a longer period of time.

AK Hochhalter et al. Making the Most of Your Healthcare intervention for older adults with multiple chronic illnesses. Patient Education & Counseling, March 9, 2010.