This study builds on previous research conducted as part of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) program to explore new ways of integrating patient comments with other performance metrics in web-based quality reports for consumers to support their choice of physicians. Our previous consumer choice study, referred to as SelectMD 1.0 (approved by OMB on 3/8/10 under OMB Control Number 0935-0161), revealed important risks and opportunities of using patient comments that require additional research in order to develop effective guidance for report sponsors. Sponsors of performance reports in both the public and private sectors, including Federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), have indicated strong interest in receiving such guidance on strategies for effectively incorporating patient comments to increase consumers' use of public reports and to enhance their ability to interpret CAHPS and other performance measures.
This follow-on study (referred to as SelectMD 2.0) will use an experimental design to test different methods of incorporating patient comments along with CAHPS survey results, the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS)-like measures of effective clinical treatments, and indicators of patient safety in web-based physician quality reports. The study will help AHRQ understand how people choose a doctor as their regular source of medical care and advice.
The study has three stages. In the first stage, respondents will be asked some questions about their health care experiences and how they go about choosing a doctor.
In the second stage the respondents will log onto an experimental website that has information about a fictitious set of doctors from which to choose. Respondents will be asked to use the information on the website to select a doctor who they think would be the best for their health care needs. Although they will not really be selecting a doctor, they will be asked to consider the choice as carefully as if they were making it for themselves. In the third stage, following their selection of a doctor, respondents will answer a set of questions about how they made their choice of doctor, how useful they found the website, and how confident they were in the choice they made.
US Code:
42 USC 299
Name of Law: Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 3 Post-Choice Test Questionnaire
Attachment F_SelectMD 2.0 Outcome and Process Variables.doc
Post-Choice Test Questionnaire