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Challenges in Using Insurance Claims Data to Identify Palliative Care Patients for a Research Trial.

Authors :
Enguidanos, Susan
Rahman, Anna
Fields, Torrie
Mack, Wendy
Brumley, Richard
Rabow, Michael
Mert, Melissa
Source :
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Nov2020, Vol. 60 Issue 5, p1012-1018. 7p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

<bold>Background: </bold>Little is known about strategies for enrolling patients in home-based palliative care programs despite the need to conduct effectiveness studies of this emerging industry.<bold>Purpose: </bold>We used medical claims data from Accountable Care Organizations in California to identify patients for a randomized controlled trial of home-based palliative care. We report outcomes from this strategy and the implications for future research.<bold>Results: </bold>Claims data identified 1357 patients. Research assistants could not reach 986 patients (72.7%), usually because the phone calls went unanswered (38.5%) and many patients' phone numbers were missing or incorrect (16.3%). Of 371 patients reached, 163 opted out. Of 208 patients screened, 177 were ineligible for the trial. Just 10 patients were enrolled.<bold>Recommendations: </bold>Our findings suggest that medical claims data may not be useful for engaging patients potentially eligible for palliative care research trials. We recommend that alternative identification and recruitment strategies be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
08853924
Volume :
60
Issue :
5
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
146535420
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.06.007