Understanding employee awareness of health care quality information: how can employers benefit?
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the factors associated with employee awareness of employer-disseminated quality information on providers.


METHODS
Primary data were collected in 2002 on a stratified, random sample of 1,365 employees in 16 firms that are members of the Buyers Health Care Action Group (BHCAG) located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. An employer survey was also conducted to assess how employers communicated the quality information to employees.


METHODS
In 2001, BHCAG sponsored two programs for reporting provider quality. We specify employee awareness of the quality information to depend on factors that influence the benefits and costs of search. Factors influencing the benefits include age, sex, provider satisfaction, health status, job tenure, and Twin Cities tenure. Factors influencing search costs include employee income, education, and employer communication strategies. We estimate the model using bivariate probit analysis.


METHODS
Employee data were collected by phone survey.


RESULTS
Overall, the level of quality information awareness is low. However, employer communication strategies such as distributing booklets to all employees or making them available on request have a large effect on the probability of quality information awareness. Employee education and utilization of providers' services are also positively related to awareness.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is one of the first to investigate employee awareness of provider quality information. Given the direct implications for medical outcomes, one might anticipate higher rates of awareness regarding provider quality, relative to plan quality. However, we do not find empirical evidence to support this assertion.
Abraham
Jean
J
Department of Healthcare Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Feldman
Roger
R
Carlin
Caroline
C
D001364:Awareness; D003625:Data Collection; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D011787:Quality of Health Care