BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that minority populations have lower levels of attendance and retention in mental health care than non-Latino whites. Patient activation and empowerment interventions may be effective in increasing minority patients' attendance and retention. OBJECTIVES: This study developed and evaluated a patient self-reported activation and empowerment strategy in mental health care. RESEARCH DESIGN: The Right Question Project-Mental Health (RQP-MH) trainings consisted of 3 individual sessions using a pre/post test comparison group design with patients from 2 community mental health clinics. The RQP-MH intervention taught participants to identify questions that would help them consider their role, process and reasons behind a decision; and empowerment strategies to better manage their care. SUBJECTS: A total of 231 participated, completing at least the pretest interview (n = 141 intervention site, 90 comparison site). MEASURES: Four main outcomes were linked to the intervention: changes in self-reported patient activation; changes in self-reported patient empowerment; treatment attendance; and retention in treatment. RESULTS: Findings show that intervention participants were over twice as likely to be retained in treatment and over 3 times more likely than comparison participants to have scheduled at least 1 visit during the 6-month follow-up period. Similarly, intervention participants demonstrated 29% more attendance to scheduled visits than comparison patients. There was no evidence of an effect on self-reported patient empowerment, only on self-reported patient activation. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the intervention's potential to increase self-reported patient activation, retention, and attendance in mental health care for minority populations. By facilitating patient-provider communication, the RQP-MH intervention may help minorities effectively participate in mental health care.
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that minority populations have lower levels of attendance and retention in mental health care than non-Latino whites. Patient activation and empowerment interventions may be effective in increasing minority patients' attendance and retention. OBJECTIVES: This study developed and evaluated a patient self-reported activation and empowerment strategy in mental health care. RESEARCH DESIGN: The Right Question Project-Mental Health (RQP-MH) trainings consisted of 3 individual sessions using a pre/post test comparison group design with patients from 2 community mental health clinics. The RQP-MH intervention taught participants to identify questions that would help them consider their role, process and reasons behind a decision; and empowerment strategies to better manage their care. SUBJECTS: A total of 231 participated, completing at least the pretest interview (n = 141 intervention site, 90 comparison site). MEASURES: Four main outcomes were linked to the intervention: changes in self-reported patient activation; changes in self-reported patient empowerment; treatment attendance; and retention in treatment. RESULTS: Findings show that intervention participants were over twice as likely to be retained in treatment and over 3 times more likely than comparison participants to have scheduled at least 1 visit during the 6-month follow-up period. Similarly, intervention participants demonstrated 29% more attendance to scheduled visits than comparison patients. There was no evidence of an effect on self-reported patient empowerment, only on self-reported patient activation. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the intervention's potential to increase self-reported patient activation, retention, and attendance in mental health care for minority populations. By facilitating patient-provider communication, the RQP-MH intervention may help minorities effectively participate in mental health care.
Authors: Sarah L Clever; Daniel E Ford; Lisa V Rubenstein; Kathryn M Rost; Lisa S Meredith; Cathy D Sherbourne; Nae-Yuh Wang; Jose J Arbelaez; Lisa A Cooper Journal: Med Care Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Susan A Pickett; Sita M Diehl; Pamela J Steigman; Joy D Prater; Anthony Fox; Patricia Shipley; Dennis D Grey; Judith A Cook Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2012-03-30
Authors: Daniel J Coletti; Mary Brunette; Majnu John; John M Kane; Anil K Malhotra; Delbert G Robinson Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2015-08-27 Impact factor: 9.306