Michael D Parkinson1, Tracy Hammonds2, Donna J Keyser3, Jennie R Wheeler1, Pamela B Peele2. 1. Health and Productivity, UPMC Health Plan and WorkPartners, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 2. Health Economics, UPMC Insurance Services Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 3. UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care, UPMC Insurance Services Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Evaluate impact of physician referral to health coaching on patient engagement and health risk reduction. DESIGN: Four-year retrospective, observational cohort study with propensity-matched pair comparisons. SETTING: Integrated delivery and finance system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. SAMPLE: 10 457 adult insured members referred to health coaching by their physician; 37 864 other members identified for health coaching through insurer-initiated outreach. INTERVENTION: Practice-based, technology-supported workflow and process for physician prescribing of health coaching during regular office visit, with follow-up on patient's progress and implementation supports. MEASURES: Patient engagement based on completion of pre-enrollment assessment, formal enrollment in health coaching, completion of required sessions, health risk levels, and number of health risks pre- and post-health coaching referral. ANALYSIS: Difference-in-difference analysis to assess change in health risk levels and number of health risks pre- and post-health coaching and probability weighting to control for potential confounding between groups. RESULTS: Members referred by a physician were significantly more likely to enroll in a health coaching program (21.0% vs 6.0%, P < .001) and complete the program requirements (8.5% vs 2.7%, P < .001) than when referred by insurer-initiated outreach; significant within group improvement in health risk levels from baseline (P < .001) was observed for both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients are significantly more likely to engage in health coaching when a referral is made by a physician; engagement in health coaching significantly improves health risk levels.
PURPOSE: Evaluate impact of physician referral to health coaching on patient engagement and health risk reduction. DESIGN: Four-year retrospective, observational cohort study with propensity-matched pair comparisons. SETTING: Integrated delivery and finance system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. SAMPLE: 10 457 adult insured members referred to health coaching by their physician; 37 864 other members identified for health coaching through insurer-initiated outreach. INTERVENTION: Practice-based, technology-supported workflow and process for physician prescribing of health coaching during regular office visit, with follow-up on patient's progress and implementation supports. MEASURES: Patient engagement based on completion of pre-enrollment assessment, formal enrollment in health coaching, completion of required sessions, health risk levels, and number of health risks pre- and post-health coaching referral. ANALYSIS: Difference-in-difference analysis to assess change in health risk levels and number of health risks pre- and post-health coaching and probability weighting to control for potential confounding between groups. RESULTS: Members referred by a physician were significantly more likely to enroll in a health coaching program (21.0% vs 6.0%, P < .001) and complete the program requirements (8.5% vs 2.7%, P < .001) than when referred by insurer-initiated outreach; significant within group improvement in health risk levels from baseline (P < .001) was observed for both the groups. CONCLUSIONS:Patients are significantly more likely to engage in health coaching when a referral is made by a physician; engagement in health coaching significantly improves health risk levels.
Entities:
Keywords:
clinical specific settings; fitness interventions; health coaching; mind-body health interventions; nutrition interventions; stress management interventions; tobacco control interventions; weight control interventions
Authors: Yoram Vodovotz; Neal Barnard; Frank B Hu; John Jakicic; Liana Lianov; David Loveland; Daniel Buysse; Eva Szigethy; Toren Finkel; Gwendolyn Sowa; Paul Verschure; Kim Williams; Eduardo Sanchez; Wayne Dysinger; Victoria Maizes; Caesar Junker; Edward Phillips; David Katz; Stacey Drant; Richard J Jackson; Leonardo Trasande; Steven Woolf; Marcel Salive; Jeannette South-Paul; Sarah L States; Loren Roth; Gary Fraser; Ron Stout; Michael D Parkinson Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2020-12-22