Comparing Kaiser Permanente Members to the General Population: Implications for Generalizability of Research

Introduction Insight into the characteristics of populations from which research samples are drawn is essential to understanding the generalizability of research findings. This study characterizes the membership of Kaiser Permanente and compares members to the population of the communities in which...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Permanente journal Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 87 - 98
Main Authors: Davis, Anna C, Voelkel, Jackson L, Remmers, Carol L, Adams, John L, McGlynn, Elizabeth A
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States The Permanente Press 15-06-2023
Subjects:
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Introduction Insight into the characteristics of populations from which research samples are drawn is essential to understanding the generalizability of research findings. This study characterizes the membership of Kaiser Permanente and compares members to the population of the communities in which they live. Methods This study is a descriptive comparison of population distributions for Kaiser Permanente members vs the general population within counties in which Kaiser Permanente operates. Kaiser Permanente data on demographics, membership, geographically linked census data, and chronic condition prevalence were compared with community data drawn from the US Census and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results Overall, Kaiser Permanente members were older (50% aged 40 or older compared to 45.8% of the general population) and more likely to be female (51.8% vs 50.5% of the general population). Distribution by race and ethnicity was similar for all Regions combined but varied somewhat within Regions. Distribution by neighborhood-linked income, education, and social vulnerability was similar between Kaiser Permanente and the community. Prevalence of 6 of 7 chronic conditions was higher in the community than in Kaiser Permanente, with differences ranging from 0.5% for depression to 7.7% for hyperlipidemia. Conclusion The demographic characteristics of Kaiser Permanente members are similar to the general population within each of the Kaiser Permanente Regions. Overall, the size and diversity of the Kaiser Permanente membership offers an effective platform for research. This approach to comparing health system members with the larger community provides valuable context for interpreting real-world evidence, including understanding the generalizability of research and of measures of system performance.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1552-5775
1552-5767
1552-5775
DOI:10.7812/TPP/22.172