Judith H. Hibbard, DrPH

Frequency of patient-provider conversations and patient activation are the 2 most significant predictors of a high-risk patient’s behaviors to prevent kidney disease.

Tailoring coaching to each patient’s activation level may improve clinical indicators and reduce utilization more than the usual disease management coaching.

Enrollment in a consumer-driven health plan does not appear to encourage enrollees to become active, informed managers of their own health and healthcare.

This study highlights the difficulty many consumers have in understanding comparative plan information. It also suggests that presentation strategies may help consumers understand choices better.