PsychU Spotlight

Did You Know?

• Studies have shown patient engagement is associated with lower diagnostic testing and expenditures, referrals, and elective surgeries.

  Reference:
  Bipartisan Policy Center. (2012). Improving quality and reducing cost in health care: Engaging consumers using electronic tools. Retrieved from http://bipartisanpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/BPC_Engaging_Consumers_Using_Electronic_Tools.pdf MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Patient activation – a measure shown to lower rates of hospitalizations and emergency room visits – refers to a patient’s health care knowledge, skills, and ability to manage their own care.

  Reference:
  James, J. (2013). Health policy brief: Patient engagement. Health Affairs. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief_pdfs/healthpolicybrief_86.pdf Hibbard, J. & Green, J. (2013). What the evidence shows about patient activation: Better health outcomes and care experiences; Fewer data on costs. Health Affairs (32)2: 207-214. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/32/2/207.full.pdf+html MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Up to 21% higher medical costs have been demonstrated in individuals with low patient activation scores when compared with their peers with the highest level of patient activation.

  Reference:
  James, J. (2013). Health policy brief: Patient engagement. Health Affairs. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief_pdfs/healthpolicybrief_86.pdf MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Studies have shown patient engagement is associated with higher adherence to prescribed treatments, levels of satisfaction, and health literacy.

  Reference:
  Bipartisan Policy Center. (2012). Improving quality and reducing cost in health care: Engaging consumers using electronic tools. Retrieved from http://bipartisanpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/BPC_Engaging_Consumers_Using_Electronic_Tools.pdf MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Individuals diagnosed with a mental illness have been shown to enter and stay in treatment longer when multiple interventions strategies are used to engage the individual.

  Reference:
  Greene, J.A., Bina, R., & Gum, A.M. (2016). Interventions to increase retention in mental health services: A systematic review. Psychiatric Services (67)5:485-495. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201400591 MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Studies on caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia have shown they experience high levels of stress due to feelings of being overwhelmed. Stress for these individuals increases due to communication difficulties, patient symptomatology, and financial distress.

  Reference:
  Caqueo-Urizar, A., Miranda-Castillo, C., Giraldez, S.L., Maturana, S.L., Perez, M.R., & Tapia, F.M. (2014). An updated review on burden on caregivers of schizophrenia patients. Psicothema, (26)2: 235-243. Summary retrieved from https://www.psychu.org/an-updated-review-on-burden-on-caregivers-of-schizophrenia-patients/ MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Working outside of the home, generating income, and maintaining activities other than caregiving may protect a caregiver’s mental health.

  Reference:
  Caqueo-Urizar, A., Miranda-Castillo, C., Giraldez, S.L., Maturana, S.L., Perez, M.R., & Tapia, F.M. (2014). An updated review on burden on caregivers of schizophrenia patients. Psicothema, (26)2: 235-243. Summary retrieved from https://www.psychu.org/an-updated-review-on-burden-on-caregivers-of-schizophrenia-patients/ MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• An estimated 8.4 million Americans provide care to an adults with emotional or mental health issues.

  Reference:
  National Alliance on Caregiving. (2016). On pins and needles: Caregivers of adults with mental illness. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NAC_Mental_Illness_Study_2016_FINAL_WEB.pdf MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Over half of mental health caregivers (55%) feel they are involved in treatment conversations as often as they feel is needed.

  Reference:
  National Alliance on Caregiving. (2016). On pins and needles: Caregivers of adults with mental illness. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NAC_Mental_Illness_Study_2016_FINAL_WEB.pdf MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• In a 2015 study, 1 in 5 caregivers indicated they were unable to see positive aspects of their own lives due to the emotional burden of caring for an individual with serious mental illness.

  Reference:
  Vermeulen, B., Lauwers, H., Spruytte, N., Van Audenhove, C., Magro, C., Saunders, J., & Jones, K. (2015). Experiences of family caregivers for persons with severe mental illness: An international exploration. Leuven: LUCAS KU Leuven /EUFAMI. Retrieved January 5, 2017 from http://www.caringformentalhealth.org/c4c_reports/c4c_global.pdf MRC2.CORP.X.01054

• Recommendations for engaging patients and caregivers in treatment involve giving them a meaningful role in the treatment planning process and individualizing their care based upon their current activation and knowledge levels.

  Reference:
  Hibbard, J. & Green, J. (2013). Engaged patients translate to better outcomes and costs. The Health Care Blog. Retrieved January 6, 2017 from http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2013/02/10/engaged-patients-translate-to-better-outcomes-and-costs/ MRC2.CORP.X.01054