EXTERNAL VALIDATION OF THE PATIENT MEASURE OF COLLABORATIVE GOAL SETTING: HOW DOES COLLABORATIVE GOAL SETTING IMPACT SELF-MANAGEMENT?

Purpose: Engaging patients in the goal setting process is one potential method of improving health outcomes. Our understanding of how collaborative goal setting impacts self-management behaviors is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the external validity of the Patient Measure of Collaborative Goal Setting (PM-CGS) and to assess the pathways by which it impacts self-management. 

Method(s): A random sample of 400 patients aged 40 years or older, receiving diabetes care from the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System between August 2012 – August 2013 were mailed a survey containing the PM-CGS, perceived competence, trust in the physician, and self-management behaviors. External validity was evaluated via a structural equation model (SEM) in order to assess a potential association with self-management behaviors. 

Result(s): A total of 192 respondents reported engaging in a goal setting discussion with their clinician and were included in analyses. The overall fit of the unadjusted model was good (χ² = 4827.38, p<.001; RMSEA = .07). Collaborative goal setting was significantly associated with increased self-efficacy (p<.03) as well as with self-management behaviors (p<.001). Furthermore, self-efficacy was significantly associated with an increase in a patient’s self-management behaviors (p<.001). Results (p<0.05) supported that the relationship between collaborative goal setting and self-management was partially mediated by self-efficacy.

Conclusion(s): Results here provided external validity of the PM-CGS. Further testing is needed to establish the pathways by which collaborative goal setting impacts clinical outcomes.