Association of Medicare's Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative with patient-reported outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative affected patient-reported measures of quality. DATA SOURCES: Surveys of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged from acute care hospitals participating in BPCI Model 2 and comparison hospitals between October 2014 and June 2017. Variables from Medicare administrative data and the Provider of Services file were used for sampling and risk adjustment. STUDY DESIGN: We estimated risk-adjusted differences in patient-reported measures of care experience and changes in functional status, for beneficiaries treated by BPCI and comparison hospitals. DATA COLLECTION: We selected a stratified random sample of BPCI and matched comparison beneficiaries. We fielded nine waves of surveys using a mail and phone protocol, yielding 29 193 BPCI and 29 913 comparison respondents. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Most BPCI and comparison survey respondents reported a positive care experience and high satisfaction. BPCI respondents were slightly less likely than comparison respondents to report positive care experience or high satisfaction. Despite these differences in care experience, there was no difference between BPCI and comparison respondents in self-reported functional status approximately 90 days after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reduce concerns that BPCI may have unintentionally harmed patient health but suggest room for improvement in patient care experience.

Tailored Strategies to Enhance Survey Response among Proxies of Deceased Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To enhance proxy survey responses for deceased cancer patients. DATA SOURCES: Two waves of surveys about care experiences of cancer chemotherapy patients (used for a value-based purchasing initiative), collected November 2016 through March 2017. STUDY DESIGN: Surveys were mailed to deceased patients (for proxy response) in the untailored first survey wave, and using a tailored strategy in the second wave. We compared proxy responses for deceased patients with and without the tailored approach. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A tailored survey approach improved the proxy response rate from 17.6 percent to 39.0 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Simple tailoring strategies can significantly enhance proxy response rates when surveying patients in a high mortality population. However, we were unable to address the impact of higher proxy response rates on response bias since we surveyed different patients in each wave.

Condom use following a pilot test of the Popular Opinion Leader intervention in the Barbados Defence Force.

Worldwide, military personnel have been recognized as a population at elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. However, few evidence based behavioral interventions for the prevention of HIV and STIs have been rigorously evaluated in military personnel. We adapted the Popular Opinion Leaders (POL) intervention and piloted the adapted program with the Barbados Defence Force at one military base in Barbados. Popular Opinion Leaders were selected and trained to focus conversations on condom use. Behavioral questionnaires were administered using audio computer-assisted self interview at baseline (n = 256) and 6-month follow-up (n = 303). Mid-point focus groups were conducted with a sample of 15 POLs at a 3 month mid-point assessment. Quantitative data showed moderate increases in condom use at 6-months, and significant uptake of condom use during oral-genital contact in female personnel. A subgroup analysis suggests that this change was partially mediated by post-intervention changes in injunctive norms surrounding condom use in women. Focus groups revealed that POLs were heavily focusing on condom demonstrations, condom provision within social networks, speaking with coworkers about pleasure associated with condom use, and that the most common venues for conversations included those where alcohol was consumed. During the intervention, POLs dispersed from the intervention site as a result of normal personnel movement across bases, resulting in our having to use a pre and post intervention design across the population. It is likely that larger effect sizes would be observed in efforts that account for the natural dispersion of personnel across bases.

Factors associated with interest in receiving help for mental health problems in combat veterans returning from deployment to Iraq.

Mental health problems in service members often go untreated. This study focused on factors related to interest in receiving help in a survey sample of 577 combat veterans who were screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, or generalized anxiety disorder 3 months after returning from Iraq. Over three quarters of respondents recognized that they had a current problem, but only 40% were interested in receiving help. Interest in receiving help was associated with recognizing a problem and receiving mental health services in the past year. More negative attitudes toward mental health care were associated with lower interest in receiving help; paradoxically, more negative perceptions of unit stigma were associated with increased interest in receiving help. Further studies are needed to better define the relationship between stigma perceptions, interest in receiving care, and actual care utilization and to determine whether attitudes toward mental health care can be modified through changes in how care is delivered. Attitudes toward mental health care should be considered in treatment interventions.

Factors related to HIV-testing behavior and interest in testing in Namibia.

HIV testing remains an important part of HIV prevention and treatment programs. Interventions to encourage testing may be more effective if they can be tailored to audiences with different readiness for testing. We sought to determine characteristics differentiating people who had tested from those who had not but were interested, and people who were interested from people who had not tested and were not interested in testing. We analyzed survey data from 2671 adults in Namibia, investigating demographic, psychosocial, interpersonal, behavioral, and access to care-related factors that might differentiate the groups. Findings indicated that the interested group differed from the not interested group on factors such as knowledge of testing locations and about HIV medications, higher perceived susceptibility for getting HIV, lower stigma toward people with HIV, and more positive interpersonal factors like more social support and discussion about HIV. The tested group differed from the interested group on factors relating to life stage and socioeconomic status, such as being older, more educated, having more access to amenities, being less likely to be a student, and more likely to be living with a sexual partner, along with access-related factors such as access to counseling resources and testing clinics. Consistent with results from stage-based behavior change studies, interest in HIV testing among the untested may be related more to knowledge, attitudes, and social openness about HIV, while testing behavior among the interested may be related more to socioeconomic and access-related barriers. As such, interventions tailored for these different audiences may be more effective than a single intervention to promote testing.

Audience segmentation as a social-marketing tool in health promotion: use of the risk perception attitude framework in HIV prevention in Malawi.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether individuals' risk perceptions and efficacy beliefs could be used to meaningfully segment audiences to assist interventions that seek to change HIV-related behaviors. METHODS: A household-level survey of individuals (N=968) was conducted in 4 districts in Malawi. On the basis of responses about perceptions of risk and beliefs about personal efficacy, we used cluster analysis to create 4 groups within the risk perception attitude framework: responsive (high risk, strong efficacy), avoidance (high risk, weak efficacy), proactive (low risk, strong efficacy), and indifference (low risk, weak efficacy). We ran analysis of covariance models (controlling for known predictors) to determine how membership in the risk perception attitude framework groups would affect knowledge about HIV, HIV-testing uptake, and condom use. RESULTS: A significant association was found between membership in 1 or more of the 4 risk perception attitude framework groups and the 3 study variables of interest: knowledge about HIV (F8, 956=20.77; P<.001), HIV testing uptake (F8, 952=10.91; P<.001), and condom use (F8, 885=29.59; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The risk perception attitude framework can serve as a theoretically sound audience segmentation technique that can be used to determine whether messages should augment perceptions of risk, beliefs about personal efficacy, or both.

Applying social marketing principles to understand the effects of the radio diaries program in reducing HIV/AIDS stigma in Malawi.

Relatively little is known about the extent to which health campaigns can play a constructive role in reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma. The Malawi Radio Diaries is a program in which HIV-positive men and women openly discuss day-to-day events in their lives with the goal of reducing stigma in the population. Adopting a social marketing perspective, we analyze the various components of the Radio Diaries program in terms of three of the "Four P's": product (stigma reduction), place (radio), and promotion (the program itself). We first investigated the important dimensions of stigma and then developed a model to test the demographic and psychosocial correlates of these dimensions. A midterm household survey was then used to determine the relationship between exposure to the Radio Diaries program and stigma. In multivariate analyses, lower education and knowledge were associated with stronger beliefs that persons living with HIV should be isolated from others. Exposure to the Radio Diaries program did not have a main-effect on stigma, but there was a significant interaction between exposure and efficacy to reduce number of partners such that there was little difference in stigma by exposure level for those with low efficacy, but a significant difference by exposure level for those with high efficacy. Findings are discussed in terms of social marketing principles.

Association of hospital and surgeon procedure volume with patient-centered outcomes of total knee replacement in a population-based cohort of patients age 65 years and older.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between procedure volume and patient-centered outcomes such as functional status. METHODS: We performed an observational study of a stratified random sample of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent primary total knee replacement (TKR) in 2000. Low-volume surgeons were defined as surgeons performing < or =6 TKRs per year in the Medicare population, and low-volume centers were defined as those in which < or =25 TKRs per year were performed. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) functional status score (0-100 scale; 100 = best) 2 years after TKR. We defined a WOMAC functional status score of <60 as a poor functional outcome. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, preoperative functional status, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of 1,597 eligible patients agreed to participate. Twelve percent of participating patients had a WOMAC score <60 2 years following TKR. Patients operated upon by low-volume surgeons in low-volume hospitals were twice as likely to have a poor WOMAC functional status score as patients operated upon by higher volume surgeons and in higher volume hospitals (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.2). CONCLUSION: Patients operated upon in low-volume hospitals by low-volume surgeons had worse functional outcomes 2 years after TKR. These findings add a new and important dimension to the discussion of whether to promote selective referral of procedures such as TKR to high-volume centers.

Neighborhoods matter: use of hospitals with worse outcomes following total knee replacement by patients from vulnerable populations.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics are associated with health care utilization across many conditions. There has been little study of whether total knee replacement (TKR) recipients from vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, the poor, the elderly, and the less well educated, are more likely to use low-volume hospitals (LVHs). METHODS: We used Medicare claims and census data to identify a national cohort of Medicare beneficiaries who had elective TKR. We defined an LVH as a center performing fewer than 26 TKRs per year, and we used geocoding to identify "bypassers" (patients who had a high-volume hospital closer to their residence than the one where they had TKR). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the association of patient and neighborhood characteristics with utilization of LVHs and bypassing. We derived a summative measure of neighborhood vulnerability that included 4 high-risk characteristics (factors were high proportions of residents who are minority individuals, who have foreign-born status, with low income, and with low education). RESULTS: Of 113 015 TKR recipients, 13 120 (11.6%) used LVHs. Of all the TKR recipients, 9815 (8.7%) bypassed a center with a higher TKR volume than the one they used. Multivariate analyses showed that nonwhite (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.33), poor (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.83-2.08), and nonurban (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.87-2.01) subjects were more likely to use LVHs. The TKR recipients from neighborhoods with 3 or 4 vulnerability factors were more likely than patients in neighborhoods with no vulnerability factors to use an LVH and bypass a high-volume hospital. CONCLUSION: Efforts to inform patients about the association of volume with TKR outcomes should target rural areas and vulnerable populations in urban settings.

Geographic diversity of low-volume hospitals in total knee replacement: implications for regionalization policies.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Centers performing low volumes of total knee replacements (TKR) have worse outcomes of TKR than higher volume centers. Regionalization policies that shift patients to higher volume centers are being considered as a means of improving TKR outcomes. We sought to describe geographic diversity in the distribution of low-volume centers and examine state level characteristics associated with states that have a higher proportion of low-volume centers and/or a higher proportion of TKRs performed in low-volume centers. METHODS: We used U.S. Census data and geocoded Medicare claims to ascertain state-level demographic factors, procedure volume, and TKR rates and to conduct our state level analysis. We defined 2 outcomes: 1) proportion of all hospitals with a low annual TKR volume (<26 per year in the Medicare population); and 2) proportion of all TKRs in the Medicare population performed in low-volume centers. We examined linear associations among the 2 outcomes and state factors, and used multivariate regression to identify factors associated independently with these outcomes. RESULTS: Half of hospitals performing TKR in the Medicare population were low-volume centers, accounting for 13% of TKRs. Multivariate analysis revealed lower TKR rates, higher proportion of rural areas and larger state area were associated with a higher proportion of low-volume hospitals in a state. Lower proportion of elderly residents, higher population density and higher proportion of rural areas predicted a higher proportion of TKRs performed in low-volume centers. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of low-volume hospitals among U.S. states varies substantially. Regionalization of TKR may require different strategies in states with small and large numbers of low-volume centers.

Offering patients the opportunity to choose their hospital for total knee replacement: impact on satisfaction with the surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the extent to which patients were offered a choice between 2 or more hospitals for total knee replacement (TKR); to examine the association between having a choice of hospital for TKR and satisfaction with the surgery; and to identify population groups less likely to be offered a choice. METHODS: We studied a population-based sample of 932 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent elective TKR in 2000. We surveyed patients about their participation in choosing a hospital and their satisfaction with surgery. We examined whether lack of hospital choice influenced satisfaction with surgery after adjusting for age, sex, preoperative function, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Among 932 TKR recipients (mean age 74 years, 67% women), more than half (53%) reported having a lack of hospital choice. After adjusting for socioeconomic status, patients reporting lack of choice were approximately twice as likely to be dissatisfied with the results of surgery as patients who reported choosing among 2 or more hospitals for TKR (odds ratio [OR] 2.09, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.13-3.87). Results of logistic regression revealed that patients reporting lack of choice were more likely to be women (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.14-2.04), >80 years of age (as compared with 65-70 years; OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03-2.57), living in suburban areas (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.23-2.30), nonwhite (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.86-2.87), and were less likely to have TKR performed by a high-volume surgeon (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.96). CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients did not have a choice in selecting the hospital where they had TKR. Patients reporting lack of choice were more likely to be dissatisfied with surgery. Interventions to address preferences for hospital may improve satisfaction with care for patients with advanced knee arthritis.

An assessment of willingness to participate in a randomized trial of arthroscopic knee surgery in patients with osteoarthritis.

Identifying barriers to recruitment into a randomized clinical trial can help researchers adjust recruitment strategies to maximize enrollment. To determine barriers to enrollment of patients in trials of knee osteoarthritis treatments, we recruited from three centers patients over age 45 who had both knee osteoarthritis and a meniscal tear. We described a hypothetical randomized trial of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus non-operative management and assessed patients' willingness to participate in such a trial. We elicited preferences for treatment along with information on age, sex, education level, race, work status, and pain. We examined the association between these factors and willingness to participate in the trial. Orthopedic surgeons identified 106 eligible osteoarthritis patients, of whom 12 could not be reached, 6 refused and 88 (83%) completed interviews. 63% were female, 55% were college graduates, 23% were non-white and mean age was 60+/-8. The mean WOMAC pain score was 56+/-23. 22% of patients stated that they were definitely willing to participate in the hypothetical trial, and 24% stated they were probably willing. Subjects lacking strong preferences for treatment stated a greater willingness to participate than those with strong preferences (36-14% definitely willing, chi(2) for trend, p=0.005). WOMAC pain score, age, education, work status and race were not associated with willingness to participate. Males were more likely than females to state a willingness to participate (39-11% definitely willing, p=0.005). Since OA affects females disproportionately, a better understanding of barriers to females' participation in trials may enhance future research on treatment of osteoarthritis. Effectively addressing a priori treatment preferences through patient education about the advantages and drawbacks of treatments may increase willingness to participate in trials.