The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64862

Nancy P Gordon, ScD¹, Preston Maring, MD², Katie Ricklefs, MHS³, and Teresa Y Lin, MPH¹. (1) Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Northern California, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 891-3587, nancy.gordon@dor.kaiser.org, (2) Oakland Medical Center Administration, Kaiser Permanente, 280 West McArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94611, (3) Executive for Labor Management and Community Partnerships, Kaiser Permanente, Napa-Solano, 1550 Gateway Blvd., Fairfield, CA 94533

In the future, health plans may be asked to collect self-reported information from members about race/ethnicity and primary language for reporting on quality of health care delivered to minorities and enrollees through government-funded programs. We report on a pilot project conducted to examine feasibility of collecting demographic information via mailed questionnaire from adult Northern California Kaiser Permanente (KPNC) health plan members in two multicultural facility service populations. In December 1999, one-page personalized Member Information forms were mailed to four stratified (gender x 3 age groups 20-44 (YA),45-64 (MA), 65+ (OA)) random samples of adults: entire service population (ALL = 26,600); no primary care visits in < 12 months (NoPC = 5000); Hispanic surname (HS = 4,000); Chinese surname (CS = 2000). The user-friendly nonscannable form captured comprehensive demographics (e.g., race/ethnicity, education, sexual orientation), smoking status, and use of outside services. The form was on the back of a personalized cover letter on medical facility letterhead and signed by the project director. The letter, approved by KPNC’s IRB, described the purpose of this requested information, assured confidentiality, and listed a contact name and phone number.

Materials were mailed in English, but available on request in Spanish, Cantonese, and Tagalog (project purpose and how to request other forms was repeated in these languages at bottom of letter); second mailings to HS and CS samples were bilingual. A prepaid reply envelope addressed to the KPNC Division of Research was provided. After two mailings and exclusion of noncurrent members and members with no updatable address, response rates by age were:

ALL: 25.1% YA, 43.1% MA, 67.9% OA; NoPC: 18.5% YA, 27.7% MA, 44.0% OA; HS: 20.7% YA, 33.1% MA, 56.8% OA; CS: 31.4% YA, 46.8% MA, 66.1% OA.

YA and MA females were significantly better responders than similarly aged males for all samples. Information is being collected to examine response rates by language preference and race/ethnicity. Results suggest that collecting population-based data via mail will be difficult and expensive. Project materials, procedures, and learnings will be shared.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about potential difficulties in collecting self-reported member demographic data by mail for reporting purposes, including differential response by age, gender, ethnicity, and utilization history.
• Participants will be exposed to a questionnaire and supporting materials used to collect demographic and other selected data from health plan members, as well as data collection procedures.
• Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the broader scope of this project which involves study of the mediating effect of education and primary language on the relationship of member race/ethnicity and quality of care.

Keywords: Community-Oriented Primary Care, Member Surveys

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.