A multilingual mass communication intervention for seniors and people with disabilities on Medicaid: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the following: (1) baseline knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions about Medicaid managed care (MMC) among seniors and people with disabilities (SPD) receiving Medicaid benefits; (2) SPD Medicaid beneficiaries' use of and satisfaction with a user-designed MMC guidebook; and (3) guidebook effects on changes in MMC knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors of SPD beneficiaries.


METHODS
Survey data collected between February and May 2008 from a random sample of SPD receiving Medicaid benefits in three California counties.


METHODS
This randomized controlled trial of 319 intervention and 373 control SPD Medicaid beneficiaries used pre- and postintervention telephone surveys to compare changes in MMC knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors.


METHODS
Baseline and follow-up telephone interviews were conducted in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven percent of intervention participants reported using the guidebook. Nearly all (97.9 percent) found it somewhat or very useful. Intervention participants showed gains in knowledge, positive attitudes, and intentions to enroll in MMC that are statistically significant compared with control participants. However, knowledge levels remained low even among intervention participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that the guidebook is an effective way to improve recipients' MMC knowledge, confidence, and behavioral intentions.
Kurtovich
Elaine
E
Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, 2140 Shattuck Ave., 10th floor, Berkeley, CA 94704-7388, USA. elainek@berkeley.edu
Ivey
Susan L
SL
Neuhauser
Linda
L
Graham
Carrie
C
Constantine
Wendy
W
Barkan
Howard
H
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D019303:Multilingualism; D014481:United States