A Study of the Effect of Patient Education (Talking Health Together) in Improving Doctor-patient Communication

• physician satisfaction and sense of partnership with the doctor-patient encounter; [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• patient perception of quality of doctor-patient communication and relationship and patient confidence in own ability to communicate effectively with their doctor; [ Time Frame: Twice ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• patient perception of the management of their chronic disease(s); and patient recall of discussions of lifestyle recommendations and chronic disease medications discussed during the encounter. [ Time Frame: Twice ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

This study is being carried out to see if patients make the lifestyle changes or take their medication as instructed by their doctor during their visit as a result of the T.H.T. patient-education training. Proper information exchange between doctors and patients is an important part of quality health care. Although many patients would like more information, they often do not ask for it directly during doctor-patient visits. The patient-training in this study specifically aims at improving patient participation during medical appointments by building communication skills such as requests for information and sharing health concerns with the doctor.

• Behavioral: THT PACE Training
  Patient training
• Other: placebo

• Active Comparator: THT PACE eLearning module
  The PACE (prepare, ask, check, express) training methodology will be available to patients before their 2nd doctor visit
  Intervention: Behavioral: THT PACE Training
• Active Comparator: THT PACE eLearning module & nurse-led workshop training
  THT PACE eLearning and then nurse-led workshop for training on PACE methodology
  Intervention: Behavioral: THT PACE Training
• Placebo Comparator: Usual care
  Patients just go to their doctor as they normally would but get some disease specific information in the form of brochures as do intervention arms
  Intervention: Other: placebo

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female, aged 40 years of age or greater
• Clinical documentation of diagnosis not to target of at least one of the following: Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension or Hypercholesterolemia
• Receive a prescribed medication for the chronic disease for which they were included in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients in active phase of cancer treatment (i.e. chemotherapy or radiotherapy at time of study).
• Inability to carry out the encounter with their physician in English without need of assistance
• Uncomfortable using a computer for routine activities such as regular access to the web and e-mail.

• Dr. Marie-Therese Lussier
• Dr. Claude Richard