Patient/Consumer Activation Measure (PAM)

What should I know about the Patient/Consumer Activation Measure?

The Patient/Consumer Activation Measure is a tool that allows us to gauge a person's "activation" levels in the domain of health behavior. Activation factors include:

• knowledge

• skill

• confidence

People who have low activation scores are typically overwhelmed and discouraged when it comes to taking care of their health.

How does the Patient/Consumer Activation Measure show up in our work?

The Patient/Consumer Activation Measure has taught us that we can evaluate a person's knowledge, skill, and confidence in order to understand what kind of support is needed for them to succeed in adopting a particular healthful behavior.

Where can I learn more about the Patient/Consumer Activation Measure?

Click here or watch the video below to learn more.

References

1. Hibbard JH, Stockard J, Mahoney ER, Tusler M. Development of the Patient Activation Measure (PAM): Conceptualizing and Measuring Activation in Patients and Consumers. Health Services Research. 2004;39(4 Pt 1):1005-1026. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2004.00269.x. Accessed July 1, 2016.

2. Wisbaum W. Promoting better health and better care at lower cost: The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) [Vimeo Video]. Funcas; 2015. Accessed July 1, 2016.

3. TEDMED. TEDMED Great Challenges: Making the Grade: Examining the Case for Patient Activation Measures [YouTube Video]. 2014. Accessed July 1, 2016.