CALS Patient Activated Learning System (PALS)

Can the Digital Patient Activated Learning System Increase Racial Minority Engagement With Health Information? A Multi-Site Pilot Examination in New York State

The overall goal in this line of inquiry is to test whether the Patient Activated Learning System (PALS) is effective in reducing disparities in access to reliable, easily understood health information, and whether this increased understanding has downstream consequences such as increases in trust in the medical system and self-management behaviors.

Participants will view, in randomized order, PALS or WebMD content on hypertension and on high cholesterol. This study will test knowledge uptake across topics as well as attitudes toward and trust in the information and information providers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient ≥ 18 years of age.
• Self-reported hypertension diagnosis.
• English speaking
• Passing the cognition screener
• Able to read in English
• Patient at designated recruitment clinics

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speakers
• Not having self-identified as having hypertension
• Inability to read in English
• Being younger than 18
• Not passing the screener
• Not being a patient on the participating clinics