Effect of a self-care education program on medical visits
- 2 December 1983
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in JAMA
- Vol. 250 (21) , 2952-2956
- https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.250.21.2952
Abstract
A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of self-care educational interventions was conducted in a health maintenance organization to determine their effect on ambulatory care utilization. Statistically significant decreases in total medical visits and minor illness visits were found in each of 3 experimental groups as compared with a control group. These decreases averaged 17% and 35%, respectively. These results were most clearly linked to a system of written communications emphasizing personal decision making about the use of medical care. The addition of a nurse counseling session to the written materials may increase cost savings and appears to be attractive to high utilizers. A telephone information service was offered but not used. It is estimated that the decreases in utilization could result in a savings of .apprx. $2.50-$3.50 for each dollar spent on the educational interventions. Self-care education systems may have important effects on medical care costs, physician satisfaction, and patient confidence.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Reducing physician visits for colds through consumer educationJAMA, 1983
- Supervised Patient-Management of HemophiliaAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1973