Assessing Patient Interest in Individualized Preventive Care Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Preventive Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Many adults do not receive all recommended preventive services.
• Patient interest in prioritizing preventive care needs is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient interest in and reception of individualized preventive care recommendations.
• To explore how personalized recommendations might influence patient decision-making and motivation for preventive care.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study combining focus groups (N=28) and a nationwide survey (N=2,103) of middle-aged and older adults.
• Participants reviewed materials on the benefits of major preventive services and provided feedback on "individualized preventive care recommendations" tailored to risk factors.

Main Results:

• A large majority found individualized recommendations easy to understand (88.2%), useful (77.2%), and trustworthy (64.9%).
• Three-quarters (77.5%) wanted to receive these recommendations during primary care visits.
• Half of respondents were more likely to visit their doctor if individualized recommendations were discussed; patients prioritized easy/quick services over expensive ones.

Conclusions:

• Individualized preventive care recommendations are likely to be well-received in primary care settings.
• Personalized recommendations have the potential to motivate patients towards greater adherence to evidence-based preventive services.