PURPOSE Diabetes self-management is essential for diabetes control, yet little is known about patient preferences for sources of health information or about the extent to which information is sought directly or received passively through various media sources. The aim of this qualitative study was to identify how individuals with diabetes seek and use health care information. METHODSUsing a health information model to guide our research, we conducted 9 focus groups with 46 adults with a diagnosis of diabetes and then analyzed the transcripts and notes from these focus groups.RESULTS Five themes emerged: (1) passive receipt of health information about diabetes is an important aspect of health information behavior; (2) patients weave their own information web depending on their disease trajectory; (3) patients' personal relationships help them understand and use this information; (4) a relationship with a health care professional is needed to cope with complicated and sometimes confl icting information; and (5) health literacy makes a difference in patients' ability to understand and use information.CONCLUSIONS Patients make decisions about diabetes self-management depending on their current needs, seeking and incorporating diverse information sources not traditionally viewed as providing health information. Based on our fi ndings, we have developed a new health information model that refl ects both the nonlinear nature of health information-seeking behavior and the interplay of both active information seeking and passive receipt of information.

High abstinence rates in the controls indicate the power of biologic monitoring and home visits to assess stress, support, depression, and intimate partner violence; these elements plus booklets were as effective as more intensive interventions. Targeting partners who smoke is needed.

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PURPOSE Americans receive only one-half of recommended preventive services. Information technologies have been advocated to engage patients. We tested the effectiveness of an interactive preventive health record (IPHR) that links patients to their clinician's record, explains information in lay language, displays tailored recommendations and educational resources, and generates reminders. METHODSThis randomized controlled trial involved 8 primary care practices. Four thousand fi ve hundred patients were randomly selected to receive a mailed invitation to use the IPHR or usual care. Outcomes were measured using patient surveys and electronic medical record data and included IPHR use and service delivery. Comparisons were made between invited and usual-care patients and between users and nonusers among those invited to use the IPHR.RESULTS At 4 and 16 months, 229 (10.2%) and 378 (16.8%) of invited patients used the IPHR. The proportion of patients up-to-date with all services increased between baseline and 16 months by 3.8% among intervention patients (from 11.4% to 15.2%, P <.001) and by 1.5% among control patients (from 11.1% to 12.6%, P = .07), a difference of 2.3% (P = .05). Greater increases were observed among patients who used the IPHR. At 16 months, 25.1% of users were up-todate with all services, double the rate among nonusers. At 4 months, delivery of colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening increased by 19%, 15%, and 13%, respectively, among users.CONCLUSIONS Information systems that feature patient-centered functionality, such as the IPHR, have potential to increase preventive service delivery. Engaging more patients to use systems could have important public health benefi ts. Ann Fam Med 2012;10:312-319. doi:10.1370/afm.1383. INTRODUCTIONA mericans receive only one-half of recommended preventive services.1 Among the various causes is poor access to reliable information. Patients need evidence-based information about what is recommended-tailored to their individual risk factors (eg, age, sex, co mbordities, prior testing, family history, health behaviors)-and presented in an understandable format.2 They need reminders when services are due, guidance to deal with inconsistent recommendations, and access to decision aids for choices that require shared decision making. [3][4][5] To act on their choices, patients need written plans and logistical details. 6,7 Clinicians often lack time and resources to provide this information. 8 One proposed solution is to harness the power of information technology, especially personal health records. For the purposes of this article, personal health records are broadly defi ned as health information systems used by patients, whereas electronic health records (EHRs) are systems primarily used by clinicians. 313 INT ER AC T IVE PR E V ENT IV E HE A LT H R ECOR Dgive patients direct access to the EHR of their clinician, 9,10 which is empowering, speeds access to results, and enables patients to discover inaccuracies in their medical record. The next gene...

Effectively engaging patients in their care is essential to improve health outcomes, improve satisfaction with the care experience, reduce costs, and even benefit the clinician experience. This article will address the topic of patient engagement directly and review the relationships between health literacy and patient engagement. While there are many ways to define patient and family engagement, this article will consider engagement as "patients, families, their representatives, and health professionals working in active partnership at various levels across the health care system-direct care, organizational design and governance, and policy making-to improve health and health care [Health Aff (Millwood) 32 (2013), 223-231]." We will specifically focus on the patient engagement and health literacy needs for three scenarios (1) decision-making, (2) health behavior change, and (3) chronic disease management; we will include the theoretical underpinnings of engagement, the systems required to better support patient engagement, how social determinants of health influence patient engagement, and practical examples to demonstrate approaches to better engage patients in their health and wellbeing. We will close by describing the future of patient engagement, which extends beyond the traditional domains of decision-making and self-care to describe how patient engagement can influence the design of the healthcare delivery system; local, state, and national health policies; and future research relevant to the needs and experiences of patients.