Patient Activation Is Inconsistently Associated with Positive Health Behaviors Among Obese Safety Net Patients (Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health)

​Authors examined the association of patient activation and physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption among obese safety net patients. Adult obese patients of three safety net clinics completed a survey assessing patient activation, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, care experiences, and health status.

In adjusted analyses, higher activated patients had higher odds  of consuming fruits and vegetables daily than less activated patients. There was no significant association between patient activation and regular physical activity. Engaging in regular physical activity appears to be difficult, even for highly activated patients. In contrast, additional fruit and vegetable consumption is a relatively easier change. Patient activation was inconsistently associated with two positive health behaviors among obese safety net patients.

• Mona AuYoung
• Ninez A. Ponce, PhD, MPP
• O. Kenrik Duru, MD, MSHS
• Arturo Vargas Bustamante, PhD, MPP, MA
• Caroline Thompson
• Hector P. Rodriguez