Creating more effective health plan quality reports for consumers: lessons from a synthesis of qualitative testing

Social marketing techniques such as consumer testing have only recently been applied to develop effective consumer health insurance information. This article discusses lessons learned from consumer testing to create consumer plan choice materials. Data were collected from 268 publicly and privately...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Health services research Vol. 36; no. 3; p. 447
Main Authors:	Harris-Kojetin, L D, McCormack, L A, Jaël, E F, Sangl, J A, Garfinkel, S A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Health Research and Educational Trust 01-07-2001 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Subjects:	Beneficiaries Consumer Advocacy Consumer behavior Consumer Behavior - statistics & numerical data Consumer education Consumers Decision Making Decision theory Employers Focus Groups Government agencies Handbooks Health aspects Health care policy Health insurance Health insurance industry Humans Information Services Insurance, Health - standards Interviews as Topic - methods Managed Care Programs - standards Marketing Medicaid Medicaid - statistics & numerical data Medicare Medicare - statistics & numerical data Private Sector - statistics & numerical data Qualitative research Quality of Health Care - statistics & numerical data Social marketing State employees Statistical analysis Studies Surveys United States United States United States > US
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Summary:	Social marketing techniques such as consumer testing have only recently been applied to develop effective consumer health insurance information. This article discusses lessons learned from consumer testing to create consumer plan choice materials. Data were collected from 268 publicly and privately insured consumers in three studies between 1994 and 1999. Iterative testing and revisions were conducted to design seven booklets to help Medicaid, Medicare, and employed consumers choose a health plan. Standardized protocols were used in 11 focus groups and 182 interviews to examine the content, comprehension, navigation, and utility of the booklets. A method is suggested to help consumers narrow their plan choices by breaking down the process into smaller decisions using a set of guided worksheets. Implementing these lessons is challenging and not often done well. This article gives examples of evidence-based approaches to address cognitive barriers that designers of consumer health insurance information can adapt to their needs.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0017-9124 1475-6773