Department of Health and Human Services
	Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Activities FY 2003 Plan and Budget February 2002

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RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS

(by HHS Strategic Plan Objective)

INCREASE CONSUMER AND PATIENT USE OF HEALTH CARE QUALITY INFORMATION (OBJECTIVE 4.2)

FY 2003 Priorities

HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH (NIH)

Research: In FY 2003, NIH funds will be used to support projects that address the health information needs of the public, particularly making consumers aware of electronic medical information resources. FY 2003 priorities include:

• assessing our ability to provide better retrieval of health information for consumers and patients, such as examining level of consumer health vocabulary, search engine, spell checker, search results, and display of MEDLINEplus.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) will support research on:

• evidence-based interventions to enhance cancer communication.
• communication methods for diverse and under-served populations.
• innovative communication strategies to increase informed decision making and participation in clinical trials.
• communication about genetic testing, survivorship, and end of life issues.
• communication interventions to improve cancer prevention and early detection behaviors.

Evaluation: NLRM will continue to support evaluations of web sites developed by the National Library of Medicine and will examine in depth the utility and impact of web sites providing health and medical information to the general public and to health professionals, particularly focusing on how access to high quality medical information on the internet makes a difference.

OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH (OPHS)

Evaluation: The release of the 1999 Institute of Medicine’s report, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, alerted the nation that errors occur frequently in the care of patients and that many of these errors could be avoided, and their potentially harmful effects on patients minimized by redesigning the processes and systems of care to be safer. Its follow-up report, Crossing the Quality Chasm, provides a strategic direction for redesigning the health care delivery system of the 21st century to ensure that all Americans receive care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. However, these reports do not make the linkages with the large body of evidence about racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health status or the growing science surrounding the impact of cultural and linguistic barriers to health care. This proposed study would investigate and illuminate the interface between health care quality assurance efforts relative to patient safety/medical errors reduction and the challenges and barriers posed to effective physician/health plan staff-patient interactions, clinical/staff encounters, and diagnosis and treatment options posed by cultural and language barriers. Included in this study would be a focus on how such barriers affect physician, staff, and member/patient comprehension and member/patient compliance with care and treatment regimens. This study is supportive of the President’s initiative to expand access to quality healthcare, Departmental efforts to ensure that patient protections apply to all Americans, and the Healthy People 2010 Leading Health Indicator to improve access to health care.