Date of Award

8-11-2015

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

Public Health

First Advisor

Douglas W. Roblin, PhD

Second Advisor

Linda G. Toomer, DNP, MSN, RN, CNML

Abstract

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Clinics within the Grady Health System (GHS) have been recently recognized as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This creates a new standard of care for GHS, its clinics, and the surrounding neighborhood; but, the standard of care and features of the PCMH may not be fully understood or appreciated by GHS patients. Like many other municipal hospitals, the patient population of GHS tends to be lower in literacy and numeracy skills, on average, than the national population. Thus, communicating important PCMH standards and features to the GHS patient population can be challenging. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to design a patient education brochure tailored to the needs and values of Grady PCMH patients to help them understand and navigate the Grady PCMH. This research proposal aims to provide information on PCMH standard and features in an easily understood brochure to individuals, for distribution to the local communities and patients that GHS serves. The proposed research will evaluate at what level of literacy and numeracy patients might better comprehend the new PCMH standards and what format of communication materials will assist patients in better navigating the health system, health education, and ultimately improving their health. It is important for this patient education brochure to be sensitive to the needs and values of the populations that Grady serves to better inform and motivate their patients of the benefits of the PCMH.

APPROACH: The proposed research will collect quantitative and qualitative data from a convenience sample of approximately 100 GHS adult patients who present for care at GHS and who consent to participate in a face-to-face interview. Patients will view a proposed brochure and be asked questions about its format, acceptability, and ease of understanding. Validated measures of health-related literacy and numeracy will be collected. Analyses will focus on overall acceptance and understanding of the proposed PCMH brochure and the associations of literacy and numeracy with acceptance and understanding.

IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE: It is important for a patient brochure describing the benefits of a PCMH to be understood by the patients who are the intended beneficiaries of a PCMH. Improved awareness of PCMH standards and features will presumably help to ultimately improve patient navigation of the PCMH and ultimately their health behaviors and outcomes.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/7397236

Download

Share

COinS