Patient Activation Measure

About the project

This pilot explored the acceptability and feasibility of the Patient Activation Measure (PAM®) in Victoria.

PAM® is a validated patient reported outcome measure that health services and clinicians can use: 

• as a tailoring tool to deliver person-centred care
• for population segmentation and risk stratification
• as a measurement tool.

To achieve this, SCV worked with 12 participating health services to embed PAM® within existing chronic disease management programs. Health services used it to tailor care for eligible patients, with a minimum target of 50% uptake.

In partnership with CFEP Surveys and Insignia, SCV supported health services by providing licences, implementation resources, training, monthly coaching and quarterly communities of practice.

Background

Chronic conditions are a leading cause of potentially preventable hospitalisations, with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and type 2 diabetes accounting for half of the potentially preventable hospitalisations for chronic conditions (AIHW, 2020).

The PAM® supports increasing patient activation – a person’s ability to understand their health condition and self-manage their health – which has been demonstrated to align with better health outcomes, better care experiences and reduced unwarranted healthcare service utilisation, including a reduction in potentially preventable hospitalisations, in people with chronic disease (Janamian et al. 2022).

What is the PAM®?

The PAM® uses 13 questions to assess a patient’s knowledge, skills, and confidence in self-managing their own health. It places patients into one of four increasing levels of activation along a 100-point scale. An increase in a patient’s PAM® score within and between levels demonstrates an increase in patient self-management.

Outcomes

• 2,606 people completed an initial PAM®
• 1,386 people completed a follow-up PAM®
• PAM® scores increased across all 4 activation levels
• Acceptability: 63% of eligible patients completed a PAM®, exceeding the 50% service-level target.
• Feasibility: PAM® was generally easy to use, but workflow pressures, staff turnover, language and health literacy needs affected implementation
• CFEP Surveys’ cost-impact modelling estimated potential net savings of approximately $8.37 million after contract costs. These are modelled savings only and do not include all administrative and workforce costs.