Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®)

What is PAM® and why it matters in this project 

The Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®) is a validated tool that measures a person’s knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health and healthcare. 

PAM® recognises that people are at different stages of readiness when it comes to managing their health. Rather than assuming all patients need the same approach, PAM® helps clinicians understand where a person is starting from, so care can be tailored accordingly. 

In primary care settings, PAM® supports more meaningful, patient-centred conversations and helps teams deliver care that is responsive, practical and realistic for each individual. 

The PDEX Project is grounded in patient-centred care and the belief that better health outcomes are achieved when people are supported to take an active role in their care. This project is designed to embed a sustainable and measurable approach to person-centred care. 

At a glance: PAM® in this project

Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®) is a core component of this project and is strongly expected to be used by participating clinicians and health professionals. It will support patient-centred care for people living with parkinson’s disease and for the project to measure the impact on a person’s health outcomes.

It helps clinicians:

  • Understand a patient’s readiness to manage their health
  • Tailor care, communication and support
  • Strengthen shared decision-making and self-management
  • Enable measurable improvement in health outomes over time

Your engagement with PAM® is a key part of the learning experience and project outcomes to build practical skills in applying patient-centred approaches in real-world care.

Why PAM® is used in the PDEX Project 

PAM® is used because it: 

  • Provides a structured and evidence-based way to understand patient activation 
  • Supports shared decision-making and personalised care planning 
  • Helps clinicians tailor education, self-management support and follow-up 
  • Encourages reflective practice and deeper understanding of patient experience 
  • Aligns with best practice in primary care and chronic disease management 

Using PAM® moves the focus from “what’s the matter with the patient” to “what support does this person need right now?”  

By using PAM®, clinicians move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and are better equipped to meet people where they are 

What’s expected of you as participants in the PDEX Project 

As part of the PDEX Project, clinicians and health professional learners are strongly expected to use PAM® in their work. 

Engaging with PAM® is an essential component of the learning experience and supports the development of practical skills in: 

  • Applying patient-centred care principles 
  • Using patient-reported measures in real-world settings 
  • Interpreting insights to inform care and service improvement 

Participants are expected to become familiar with PAM®, use it appropriately within their project context, and reflect on how it informs clinical decision-making and patient engagement.