Community Science was engaged by the foundation in 2007 to evaluate this particular ten-year objective. As part of the initial support, we helped the foundation convene and facilitate an advisory committee to develop a framework for improving patient-provider relations as a means to reducing health disparities. (2007-2008).
At around the same time, the foundation contracted with Community Science to evaluate its Health Literacy in Adult Education Settings initiative. This initiative aimed to infuse health literacy into the curricula of six adult education centers. Community Science conducted interviews center directors; conducted pre- and post-tests of students’ self-efficacy in health and health literacy knowledge; and surveyed the teachers. (2008–2009)
Guided by the framework mentioned above, we also conducted a retrospective and secondary analysis of the foundation’s discretionary grants related to patient-provider interactions. This report is a “live” document; we will update it every year to include new grants made by the foundation.
In 2008, the Connecticut Health Foundation, guided by the framework mentioned above, designed EQual, a two-year effort to assist private physician practices make quality improvements that will eventually lead to better patient-provider interactions. The first of its kind in Connecticut, this initiative is modeled after components of the Improvement Performance in Practice (IPIP) effort in Colorado. Community Science is evaluating EQual as part of our overall role to assess the degree to which the foundation achieves its ten-year objective. (2008-2011).