5. Public Reporting as a Quality Improvement Strategy

Appendix M. Health Plans: Qualitative Evidence
Table M1. Health plans qualitative studies: Columns 1-9 of 9 (pages M-1 to M-23)
Author
Year
Braun
2002 160
1. Study
Purpose
To evaluate
consumer
response to the
first healthcare
system-level
report card
2. Geographic
Location
Northeast
Minnesota
3. Study
Design/
Type
Focus
Groups
4. Sample/
Population
Procedure 5. Outcomes
2 focus groups
drawn from
community club
members in
Minnesota
(N=10 for each
focus group)
3 focus groups
of retired
persons living
independently
in the
community
(N=9 or 10 per
focus group)
Usefulness
Trustworthiness
and
Content of Public
Reports
M-1
6. Name
of Public
Report 7. Results 8. Summary
Derived
from
Patient
Survey
Effect on Knowledge of
the Health Care System.
56% reported that their
confidence in the health
care system remained
unaffected by report card
data, 21% reported
increased confidence,
3%less confidence, and
10% had no opinion..
Usefulness. Participants
claimed they would use
information in the report
card if they were
dissatisfied with their
current medical care, if
their options for
healthcare coverage
changed, or if they were
in poor health. When
asked to identify health
care consumers who
potentially would be
most receptive to report
cards, participants
named new community
members, individuals
with insurance coverage
allowing a choice of
health care systems, and
people with changing
healthcare needs. The
report card was
considered especially
useful for individuals,
such as clinic
administrators, in a
position to effect system
Healthcare
consumers
appreciated the
attention to
patient
experiences and
supported
healthcare quality
improvement
initiatives. Report
cards were
considered
important for
choosing a
healthcare
system in certain
circumstances
and for guiding
quality
improvement
efforts at all
levels.
9. Funding of
Research
Minnesota
Institute for
Community
Health
Information