Analyzing the parameters that influence the engagement of patients in their own health

Purpose: Engaging patients in their care is crucial for the management of their health and a successful health system. Despite the importance of this topic, there is no ideal tool to measure patient engagement in order to enable clinicians to better manage their patients. Previous studies have shown that higher levels of patient engagement are associated with improved health outcomes and lower use of costly health care services. Currently the best available method to measure engagement is PAM which requires patients to fill out a 15-item questioner during every encounter. However, having an index and more reliable parameters to measure patient engagement would potentially improve the quality of care by allowing clinicians to tailor their treatment strategies based on each patient's specific needs. Methods: A brainstorming session was held with a selected group of clinicians on campus to gather information about what defines an engaged patient. During this meeting, they were asked to write their ideas of what an engaged and disengaged patient looks and behaves like. These ideas were then analyzed and classified into different categories. Results: The majority believed that being conversational, inquisitive as well as following through and taking the first step were the most significant factors indicating patient engagement respectively. Conclusion: The collective perception of the group showed that patient's attitude and how they interact with the staff and physician during the visit plays a significant role in physicians' assessment of their level of engagement with their health and how they devise treatment plans accordingly.