Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111838

Carol O. Cummins, MLIS, MEd¹, Deborah A. Levesque, PhD², James O. Prochaska, PhD¹, David Miranda, PhD³, and Amy Heller, PhD, MPH⁴. (1) Pro-Change Behavior Systems, PO Box 755, West Kingston, RI 02892, 401-874-7023, ccummins@prochange.com, (2) Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc., PO Box 755, West Kingston, RI 02892, (3) Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21244, (4) Division of Beneficiary Analysis, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd, S1-13-05, Woodlawn, MD 21244

Research was conducted to assess the efficacy of a Transtheoretical Model-based manual and computer-administered expert system intervention developed for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to increase participation in informed health plan choice among new Medicare enrollees. Outcomes in this randomized control trial included Medicare knowledge, stage of change for comparing Medicare health plans, information-seeking, and satisfaction with Medicare information. Intervention materials, designed to be user-friendly and appropriate for individuals in all stages of change for comparing plans, were well received by study participants. About three-quarters of participants who received the manual alone returned an acceptability survey and had read more than half the manual. A majority of respondents found the manual to be easy to use and understand, attractive, and informative; 87 percent still had the manual, 68 percent thought they'd use it again, and 85 percent reported that they would recommend it to a friend. At follow-up, compared to participants in a control group, participants in the manual-only intervention group had higher scores on objective and subjective measures of knowledge about the Medicare program, were more likely to think that the Medicare program was understandable, and were more likely to be satisfied or very satisfied with Medicare information. Participants in the expert system intervention group had higher scores on objective measures of knowledge and where about twice as likely to have used the Medicare program's educational materials. Effect sizes were similar in magnitude to effects found in randomized trials of Transtheoretical Model-based programs for health behavior change.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• identify Transtheoretical model strategies that increase informed choice among new Medicare enrollees;
• describe key research findings on the application of the Transtheoretical model to informed health plan choice;
• discuss options for increasing intervention impact and facilitating dissemination.

Keywords: Medicare, Decision-Making

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF own stock options in Pro-Change Behavior systems.