From Our Lips To Whose Ears? Consumer Reaction to Our Current Health Care Dialect

Public perceptions of comparative effectiveness research and use of evidence in healthcare decision-making

“…Thus, for individuals participating in the focus groups, the concept of medical care was more complex and encompassing than individual examinations, medical tests, medications or surgical procedures, which are the usual components that many policy-makers and researchers associate with the definition of CER/PCOR. This is also consistent with research that suggests that consumers think differently from healthcare professionals about the definition of quality healthcare [7]. Specifically, many consumers define quality in terms of the nature of their relationship with their physician, placing a particular emphasis on their level of trust and comfort with their doctor.…”

“…In a study that explored ways to improve communications with consumers about healthcare evidence, results indicated that consumers are unfamiliar with concepts central to health policy and CER/PCOR such as 'medical evidence', 'quality guidelines' and 'quality standards' [6]. Other research suggests that consumers have negative associations with many of these terms [7].…”

Patient perceptions of integrated care: confused by the term, clear on the concept

“…Our study underscores the importance of appreciating patients’ perceptions of the meaning of integrated care. Similar to investigations of patients’ understanding of patient-centered medical homes [ 7 , 8 , 12 ], our exploration of the term ‘integrated care’ indicates that patients do not understand the term but are relatively clear on the concept. Out of all the offered definitions, a majority were related to our domains or subdomains.…”

“…This term refers to a care model that encompasses the traditional tenets of primary care, such as accessible, comprehensive, coordinated care, and augments this model with a greater emphasis on patient-centeredness, innovative practice approaches, and reformed payment methods that better support primary care [ 6 ]. Many patients may be unclear about the terms ‘primary care’ and ‘patient-centered medical home.’ Patients have described the patient-centered medical home in the continuum of ‘parent’s home, nursing home and funeral home’ [ 7 ]. Yet when encouraged to express in their own words what they desire in health care, patients articulate the importance of the core functional elements of primary care such as accessibility, continuity, and coordination [ 8 ].…”