An evaluation of the self-management support capacity of providers of chronic condition primary care

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy E. Cheffins ◽  
Julie A. Twomey ◽  
Jane A. Grant ◽  
Sarah L. Larkins

Self-management support (SMS) is an important skill for health professionals providing chronic condition management in the primary health care sector. Training in SMS alone does not always lead to its utilisation. This study aimed to ascertain whether SMS is being used, and to identify barriers and enablers for SMS in practice. Health professionals who underwent SMS training were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. A response rate of 55% (14 of 24) was achieved. All interviewees rated their understanding of the principles of SMS as moderate or better. In relation to how much they use these principles in their practice, several (5 of 14) said minimally or not at all. The tools they were most likely to use were SMART goals (8 of 14) and decision balance (5 of 14). Core skills that were being used included problem solving (11 of 14), reflective listening (13 of 14), open-ended questions (12 of 14), identifying readiness to change (12 of 14) and goal setting (10 of 14). The most important barriers to implementing SMS were current funding models for health care, lack of space and staff not interested in change. The most highly rated enabling strategies were more training for general practitioners and more training for practice nurses; the lowest rated was more training for receptionists. The increasing prevalence of chronic conditions due to ageing and lifestyle factors must be addressed through new ways of delivering primary health care services. Self-management support is a necessary component of such programs, so identified barriers to SMS must be overcome.

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Lawn ◽  
Malcolm Battersby ◽  
Helen Lindner ◽  
Rebecca Mathews ◽  
Steve Morris ◽  
...  

This research aimed to identify the skills required by primary health care (PHC) professionals to provide effective chronic condition prevention and self-management support, according to the perceptions of a sample of Australian consumers and carers. Qualitative data were collected and integrated from a focus group, key informant interviews and National Stakeholder meetings and a National Workshop, supported by an extensive literature review. With the exception of health professionals specifically trained or currently working in this area, consumers and carers perceive there is a lack of understanding, competence and practice of chronic condition prevention and self-management support among PHC professionals. The PHC workforce appears not to have the full set of skills needed to meet the growing burden of chronic conditions on the health system. Recommendations include education and training that focuses on improved communication skills, knowledge of community support resources, identification of consumers’ strengths and current capacities, collaborative care with other health professionals, consumers and carers and psychosocial skills to understand the impact of chronic conditions from the person’s perspective.


2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mlenzana ◽  
R. Mwansa

To establish satisfaction level of persons with disabilitiesregarding health services at primary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia.Key stakeholders views on satisfaction of services is an important componentof service rendering thus obtaining information is important in assistingwith the evaluation of health care service delivery. This will assist in improvingeffectiveness and availability of health care services to persons with physicaldisabilities.All persons with disabilities attending both rehabilitation centres andprimary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia, were targeted for this study. Willing participants were convenientlyselected to take part in the study.A cross sectional, descriptive study design using quantitative methods of data collection was used. The GeneralPractice Assessment Questionnaire was adjusted, piloted for Ndola population and used in this study to establishsatisfaction of participants. The study was ethically cleared at the University of the Western Cape and Zambia.Information and consent forms were signed by participants.Quantitative data was analysed descriptively and was reported in percentages.In the current study there were 191 participants of whom 56% were male and 44% were female with age rangefrom 18-65 years. Fifty-two percent of the participants presented with learning disabilities and 38% of persons withphysical disabilities. Majority of clients (54%) were dissatisfied with availability of services and health care servicesat the health care centres. Areas that clients were dissatisfied with were accessibility, consultation with health professionals,waiting times and opening hours of the health care centres.Clients with disabilities who accessed health care services from selected health centres in Ndola were dissatisfiedwith aspects of health services. Accessibility, consultation with health professionals, waiting times and opening hoursof the health care centres were the origin of client dissatisfaction. Other clients were satisfied with thoroughness ofhealth care providers regarding symptoms, feelings, reception and treatment received at the primary health care centre.Understanding the views of the clients is essential in improving health delivery services and could impact on thecompliance of people attending primary health care services.


Author(s):  
Carolina Lou de Melo ◽  
Maria Angélica Tavares de Medeiros

Abstract Objective: to characterize and analyze Nutritional Care (NC) for older adults in Primary Health Care (PHC), identifying how food and nutrition actions (F&N) were performed and the conceptions that guided them. Methods: a cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative study was performed in PHC in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, in two phases: i) a census study was carried out of health units, N=28 (100%), with managers who answered a structured interview to assess NC; followed by descriptive analysis. ii) a deeper investigation of this diagnosis was performed, using semi-structured interviews with key informants (interviewees) of care for older adults; being a nutritionist was not a criteria, as there were only three such professionals throughout the entire PHC, and one of the health regions studied was not served by a nutrition professional. The concept of theoretical saturation was used for the sampling plan; content analysis was carried out and the inferences were supported by references of integrality and aging. Results: NC for older adults was highlighted by individual care, predominant in all the services studied (28) (100%); nutritionists participated in this activity in just nine units (32.1%). Theoretical saturation was achieved with nine interviews. According to the discourse analysis, F&N actions were generic, focused on the treatment of diseases, influenced by negative aspects attributed to aging, there was no planning based on the needs of the territory, and health professionals identified themselves as information transmitters, leaving the responsibility of acting on such information to the older adults themselves. Conclusion: F&N actions were guided by the biomedical paradigm, fragmented, restricted to disease management, imputing the responsibility for health to the individual themselves. Thus, NC distanced itself from the promotion of healthy aging, weakening its strategic role in the quest for integrated care.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Freilich ◽  
Gunnar Nilsson ◽  
Mirjam Ekstedt ◽  
Maria Flink

Abstract Background: Multimorbidity, the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual, is present in most patients over 65 years. Primary health care (PHC) is uniquely positioned to provide the holistic and continual care recommended for this group of patients, including support for self-management. The aim of this study was to explore professionals’, patients’, and family caregivers’ perspectives on how PHC professionals should support self-management in patients with multimorbidity. This study also includes experiences of using telemedicine to support self-management.Methods: A mixed qualitative method was used to explore regular self-management support and telemedicine as a tool to support self-management. A total of 42 participants (20 physicians, 3 registered nurses, 12 patients, and 7 family caregivers) were interviewed using focus group interviews (PHC professionals), pair interviews (patients and family caregivers), and individual interviews (registered nurses, patients, and family caregivers). The study was performed in urban areas in central Sweden and rural areas in southern Sweden between April 2018 and October 2019. Data were analyzed using content analysis.Results: The main theme that emerged was “Standing on common ground enables individualized support.” To achieve such support, professionals needed to understand their own views on who bears the primary responsibility for patients’ self-management, as well as patients’ self-management abilities, needs, and perspectives. Personal continuity and trustful relationships facilitated this understanding. The findings also indicated that professionals should be accessible for patients with multimorbidity, function as knowledge translators (help patients understand their symptoms and how the symptoms correlated with diseases), and coordinate between levels of care. Telemedicine supported continual monitoring and facilitated patient access to PHC professionals.Conclusion: Through personal continuity and patient-centered consultations, professionals could collaborate with patients to individualize self-management support. For some patients, this means that PHC professionals are in control and monitor symptoms. For others, PHC professionals play a less controlling role, empowering patients’ self-management. Development and improvement of eHealth tools for patients with multimorbidity should focus on improving the ability to set mutual goals, strengthening patients’ inner motivation, and including multiple caregivers to enhance information-sharing and care coordination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Freilich ◽  
Gunnar H. Nilsson ◽  
Mirjam Ekstedt ◽  
Maria Flink

Abstract Background Multimorbidity, the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual, is present in most patients over 65 years. Primary health care (PHC) is uniquely positioned to provide the holistic and continual care recommended for this group of patients, including support for self-management. The aim of this study was to explore professionals’, patients’, and family caregivers’ perspectives on how PHC professionals should support self-management in patients with multimorbidity. This study also includes experiences of using telemedicine to support self-management. Methods A mixed qualitative method was used to explore regular self-management support and telemedicine as a tool to support self-management. A total of 42 participants (20 physicians, 3 registered nurses, 12 patients, and 7 family caregivers) were interviewed using focus group interviews (PHC professionals), pair interviews (patients and family caregivers), and individual interviews (registered nurses, patients, and family caregivers). The study was performed in urban areas in central Sweden and rural areas in southern Sweden between April 2018 and October 2019. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results The main theme that emerged was “Standing on common ground enables individualized support.” To achieve such support, professionals needed to understand their own views on who bears the primary responsibility for patients’ self-management, as well as patients’ self-management abilities, needs, and perspectives. Personal continuity and trustful relationships facilitated this understanding. The findings also indicated that professionals should be accessible for patients with multimorbidity, function as knowledge translators (help patients understand their symptoms and how the symptoms correlated with diseases), and coordinate between levels of care. Telemedicine supported continual monitoring and facilitated patient access to PHC professionals. Conclusion Through personal continuity and patient-centered consultations, professionals could collaborate with patients to individualize self-management support. For some patients, this means that PHC professionals are in control and monitor symptoms. For others, PHC professionals play a less controlling role, empowering patients’ self-management. Development and improvement of eHealth tools for patients with multimorbidity should focus on improving the ability to set mutual goals, strengthening patients’ inner motivation, and including multiple caregivers to enhance information-sharing and care coordination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Bernardo da Silva ◽  
Taciana Rocha dos Santos Sixel ◽  
Arthur de Almeida Medeiros ◽  
Paulo Henrique dos Santos Mota ◽  
Aylene Bousquat ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Studies on the workforce in rehabilitation in primary health care services are still unusual in health systems analysis. Data on the health worker density at the subnational level in rehabilitation in primary health care are not commonly observed in most health systems. Nevertheless, these data are core for the system's planning and essential for finding the balance between the composition, distribution, and number of workers for rehabilitation actions. Objective This study aims to analyze the temporal space distribution of health professionals with higher education who performed rehabilitation actions in primary health care in Brazil from 2007 to 2020. Method This is an ecological, time-series study on the supply of physiotherapists, audiologists, psychologists, and occupational therapists in primary health care, vis-a-vis the implementation of the Brazilian health policy denominated the Integrated Health Service Network for People with Disabilities. The data were obtained from the National Registry of Health Facilities. The period of analysis was from 2007 to 2020. The health worker density coefficient was calculated per 10,000 inhabitants annually, considering the five geographic regions of Brazil. The time trends of the coefficient of health professionals per year in Brazil and geographic regions were analyzed. For this purpose, joinpoint regression analysis was carried out. The average annual percentage variation was estimated, considering the respective confidence interval of 95%. Results In 2007, there were 0.12 physiotherapists/10,000 inhabitants (2326), 0.05 audiologists/10,000 inhabitants (1024), and 0.205 psychologists/10,000 inhabitants (3762). In 2020, there was an increase in the coefficient of professionals/10,000 inhabitants in all professional categories to 0.47 psychologists (> 268.1%), 0.46 physiotherapists (> 424.8%), 0.14 audiologists (> 297.1%), and 0.04 occupational therapists (> 504.5%). There was a significant increase in the supply of physiotherapists (AAPC: 10.8), audiologists (AAPC: 7.6), psychologists (AAPC: 6.8), and occupational therapists (AAPC: 28.3), with little regional variation. Conclusion Public health policies for rehabilitation have contributed to an increase in the workforce caring for people with disabilities in primary health care services. An increase in the workforce of physiotherapists, audiologists, psychologists, and occupational therapists was observed throughout the period studied in all regions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Öberg ◽  
Carl Johan Orre ◽  
Åsa Hörnsten ◽  
Lena Jutterström ◽  
Ulf Isaksson

BACKGROUND Globally, most countries face a common challenge by moving toward a population-based structure with an increasing number of older people living with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. This creates a considerable burden on health care services. The use of digital tools to tackle health care challenges established views on traditional nursing, based on face-to-face meetings. Self-management is considered a key component of chronic care and can be defined as management of the day-to-day impact of a condition, something that is often a lifelong task. The use of a screening instrument, such as the Self-Management Assessment Scale (SMASc), offers the potential to guide primary health care nurses into person-centered self-management support, which in turn can help people strengthen their empowerment and self-management capabilities. However, research on self-management screening instruments is sparse, and no research on nurses’ experiences using a digitalized scale for measuring patients’ needs for self-management support in primary health care settings has been found. OBJECTIVE This paper describes diabetes specialist nurses’ (DSNs) experiences of a pilot implementation of the SMASc instrument as the basis for person-centered digital self-management support. METHODS This qualitative study is based on observations and interviews analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS From the perspectives of DSNs, the SMASc instrument offers insights that contribute to strengthened self-management support for people with type 2 diabetes by providing a new way of thinking and acting on the patient’s term. Furthermore, the SMASc was seen as a screening instrument with good potential that embraces more than medical issues; it contributed to strengthening person-centered self-management support, and the instrument was considered to lead both parts, that is, DSNs and patients, to develop together through collaboration. CONCLUSIONS Person-centered care is advocated as a model for good clinical practice; however, this is not always complied with. Screening instruments, such as the SMASc, may empower both nurses and patients with type 2 diabetes with more personalized care. Using a screening instrument in a patient meeting may also contribute to a role change in the work and practice of DSNs.


Author(s):  
Jiawei Zhang ◽  
Peien Han ◽  
Yan Sun ◽  
Jingyu Zhao ◽  
Li Yang

Primary health care has been emphasized as a pillar of China’s current round of health reforms throughout the previous decade. The purpose of this study is to analyze the accessibility of primary health care services in Beijing and to identify locations with a relative scarcity of health personnel. Seven ecological conservation districts, which are relatively underdeveloped, were selected in the study. The Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve, as well as the shortest trip time and modified two-step floating catchment area (M2SFCA) approach, are used to quantify inequalities in primary health care resources and spatial accessibility. The Gini coefficient of primary medical services was calculated as high as 0.705, showing a significant disparity in primary care services. A total of 81.22% of communities reached the nearest primary care institution within 15 min. The average accessibility of primary healthcare services, as measured by the number of health professionals per 1000 population, was 2.34 in the 1715 communities of seven ecological conservation districts. Three hundred and ninety-one communities (22.80%) were identified with relatively low accessibility. More primary health professionals should be allocated to Miyun, Mentougou, and Changping Districts. Overall, the primary healthcare resources were distributed unevenly in most districts. According to our study, expanding primary healthcare institutions, increasing the number of competent health professionals, and enhancing road networks will all be effective ways to increase spatial access and reduce primary healthcare service disparity in Beijing.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Carryer ◽  
Claire Budge ◽  
Chiquita Hansen ◽  
Katherine Gibbs

INTRODUCTION: In line with Wagner’s Chronic Care Model, the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) has been developed to evaluate chronic illness care delivery from the patient's perspective. Modification of the instrument to assess the same aspects of care delivery from the health practitioner’s perspective would enable individual practitioners to evaluate their own provision of self-management support, and would also enable a more direct comparison between care provided and care received within the chronic illness context. AIM: To explore the potential of a modified PACIC instrument to assess individual health practitioners’ delivery of care to chronic illness patients with a sample of primary health care nurses. METHODS: Seventy-seven primary care nurses completed the modified PACIC, reworded to ask about care provision rather than receipt of care. An additional seven cultural sensitivity items were included, as were questions about the suitability of the types of chronic illness care and who should be providing the care. RESULTS: The modified PACIC items appear to be appropriate for use with health practitioners. Agreement that the types of care described in the PACIC should be provided was almost unanimous, and the predominant view was that self-management support should be provided by both nurses and doctors. Mean scale scores were higher than those generally reported from studies using the PACIC. DISCUSSION: The results of this first evaluation of a modified PACIC suggest that the original items plus the cultural sensitivity items can be used to assess self-management support by individual health practitioners. KEYWORDS: Chronic illness; self-management; primary health care, nurses


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