Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

What measure indicates a patient's confidence in managing their health effectively?

1. Patient satisfaction score

2. Health literacy index

3. Patient Activation Measure (PAM)

4. Wellness assessment

The correct answer is: Patient Activation Measure (PAM)

The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) is specifically designed to assess an individual's knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health. This tool emphasizes the patient's readiness and ability to take a proactive role in their own health care, which directly correlates with their confidence in managing their health effectively. A higher score on the PAM indicates that the patient is more engaged and feels more competent in making informed health decisions and managing their health conditions. While other options may provide valuable insights into different aspects of health and patient experience, they do not specifically measure a patient's confidence in self-management. For instance, patient satisfaction scores reflect a patient's overall satisfaction with their care rather than their confidence in managing their health. The health literacy index assesses a patient's ability to understand health information, which is an important factor but does not directly evaluate confidence or self-management skills. Wellness assessments provide a broader view of a patient’s overall health and well-being but are not focused on the specific aspect of health management confidence as PAM is.