Online Decision Aids Save Money and Improve Compliance

A recent Wall Street Journal Article talks about the role of electronic shared decision making tools in improving treatment compliance and reducing costs. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574328570637446770.html?mod=djemHL)

The article speaks to the growing body of research which shows that both patients and providers benefit when patients are well informed and play a significant role in deciding how they are going to treat or manage their health conditions. When patients are informed of their treatment options and participate in the treatment decisions, they are more likely to stick with the treatment regimens and have more confidence in the treatment plan.

Decision-aid programs appear to save money in the long run. Studies show that when patients understand their choices and share in the decision-making process with their doctors, they tend to choose less-invasive and less-expensive treatments than they would have otherwise received.

Web Based Tools Improve Diabetes Outcomes

A recent study reported on the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAH) concludes that a web based electronic tool with personalized patient information that is shared with the patient and the provider improved diabetes care and clinical outcomes. ( http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/181/1-2/37).

The study involved 511 patients and 46 family physicians and nurse-practitioners and offered web-based tools integrated with 5 different types of electronic health records, an automated telephone reminder system and a mailing of color-coded materials to half the study sample.

Sixty two per cent of patients improved with the intervention compared with 42.6% in the control group and intervention patients reported greater satisfaction with their diabetes care.

While we have much more to learn about the role of web based tool for managing chronic disease, this is another data point that suggests that these tools when properly developed, deployed and supported can improve clinical outcomes for consumers. It suggests again that personalized, web based, information and tools (information therapy) which are deployed in a manner that leverage the provider-consumer relationship can improve outcomes.