Mission Area: LSU Healthcare Literacy, Patient Safety and Enhanced Communication.Proposal Title: Test Survey Instrument to Measure Patient Comprehension and Communication Modes.

New Effort to modify principles pioneered in: o Offeror research to develop survey and clustering methodology

- Univ. of IL at Chicago College of Medicine project - Abbott Laboratories project

o Research at Univ. of WI, Madison and Univ. of IL at Chicago Technology Involved: Survey, Varimax rotation, survey instrument delivery Tasks

1. Determine patient parameters 2. Determine survey instrument protocols 3. Identify patient levels of literacy or comprehension of their disease state 4. Analyze data using varimax rotation to identify disease literacy factor

groups 5. Breakdown patient population into medical literacy factor groups 6. Determine factor group specific medical education intervention 7. Integrate use of survey information into medical reception and admission

process 8. Final test of prototype

Proposed Project Approach

The goal of this project is to develop survey protocols and parameters for assessing patient healthcare literacy levels. This is done by measuring opinions and attitudes about their healthcare experience.

● Establish new levels of understanding and communication between patient & providers● Establish greater quality of life and safety for all stakeholders● Develop custom patient survey to identify a communication style and level of

healthcare comprehension from among patient population.● Identify and clarify patient factor groups using rigorous mathematical

analysis.Operational Capability to be Provided:1. Establish and identify an individual patient’s level of healthcare literacy and

comprehension via survey.2 Increase patient knowledge, understanding, disease management ownership.3. As a result, increase patient safety and enhance their quality of life. 4. Assist medical staff in treatment planning.5. Enhance communication and understanding among all stakeholders.

Survey Objectives and Deliverables

● Survey methodology is an objective way of analyzing subjective patient data which allows assessment of reliability and validity.

● Patient opinions and attitudes are not the stimulus, but the key.● There is great richness in the subjective experience of the individual.

● Generating testable hypotheses in the absence of theory (Then use scientific method to test the hypotheses.)● Uses qualitative methods to allow respondents to say something about their own subjective attitudes that can be tested, measured and compared. ● Uses quantitative factor analysis, data reduction and induction to generate testable hypotheses.

CORPORATE INFORMATION:Qualitative Technologies, Inc., Thomas Muscarello, Ph.D.David R Donohue, M.A. QTinc@alumni.northwestern.edu

Proposed Technical Approach

Survey System Architecture

Test Population

Focus Groups

Database

Analyze Factor Groups

Survey PatientsDevelop SurveyStatements

Barriers to Health1 Can't rememberto take meds2 Dr. isn't available3 I feel tired in themorning

Survey StatementsConditions of Instruction

Hospital