The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66460

Lok Wong, MHS, Quality Measurement, National Committee for Quality Assurance, 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington D.C, DC 20036, 202 955 1784, wong@ncqa.org

This presentation will review literature on the social and behavioral barriers facing older adults recognizing urinary incontinence as a condition that requires medical attention. Despite studies demonstrating debilitating functional and health impairment in older adults suffering from urinary incontinence, few report this problem to their doctors and seek care, resulting in loss of independence and self-esteem.

In order to encourage identification and treatment of urinary incontinence in older adults, new survey questions have been developed for implementation in the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey - a national survey of Medicare beneficiaries. Data collected from these survey questions will highlight the prevalence of the problem in the United States, and the extent to which seniors are receiving treatment for urinary incontinence.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private not-for-profit organization which provides quality information on health plan enrollees in the U.S., including Medicare beneficiaries has developed a new HEDIS performance measure using data collected from the survey questions. Through public reporting of plan's performance on their management of urinary incontinence in older adults, NCQA seeks to improve patients' and health care providers' recognition of urinary incontinence, and care-seeking behavior. This presentation will discuss the rationale for developing the new survey questions and performance measure to address an important health condition, inadequately addressed in health care and poorly documented in medical records. Through this presentation, the audience may be able to apply similar techniques to improving awareness of areas in need of quality improvement.

This project was funded by the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services to develop a HEDIS performance measure at the National Commitee for Quality Assurance.

Learning Objectives:

• Through this presentation, the audience will learn:
• • about the barriers for patients and physicians to recognizing urinary incontinence as a condition that requires medical attention
  • how a survey based performance measure can help to highlight the problem of under-recognition and raise awareness of the importance of addressing urinary incontinence in medical care
  • apply performance measurement methods to other areas in need of quality improvement and awareness raising.

Keywords: Elderly, Survey

Related Web page: www.ncqa.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Committee for Quality Assurance Health Plan and Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS) Medicare Health Outcomes Survey
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employer