Assessment
Psychometric properties of the Patient Activation Measure-13 among out-patients waiting for mental health treatment: A validation study in Norway

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.06.009Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • The Norwegian version of PAM-13 has appropriate psychometric properties.

  • The test-retest reliability was acceptable.

  • The sensitivity to change and adequate factorial validity were good.

  • PAM-13 is a suitable research tool in mental health.

  • PAM-13 can be recommended for evaluating patient activation in a clinical setting.

Abstract

Objective

The Patient Activation Measure-13 (PAM-13) has been found useful for assessing patient knowledge, skills and confidence in management of chronic conditions, but the empirical evidence from mental health is sparse. The psychometric properties of PAM in out-patients waiting for treatment in community mental health centers (CMHC) have therefore been examined.

Methods

A total of 290 adults from two CMHC completed PAM. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted with 273 patients. Data at baseline and after 4 weeks were used to analyze test-retest reliability (n = 60) and to analyze the sensitivity to change (n = 51).

Results

The exploratory factor analysis revealed a fit for a two-factor model (Cronbach's α was 0.86 and 0.67), and was assessed for a one-factor model (α = 0.87). The test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.76. Sensitivity to change was good with a statistically significant activation improvement (p < 0.001) on patients receiving a peer co-led-educational intervention (Cohen's d was 0.85).

Conclusion

PAM has appropriate and acceptable psychometric properties in mental health settings.

Practice implications

Assessing activation before treatment might be useful for scheduling the delivery of mental health services as well as evaluating educational interventions aimed at improving patient engagement in mental health.

Keywords

Patient Activation Measure
Validation
Measurement
Mental health
Community mental health centers

Cited by (0)

1

Shared first authorship.