scholarly journals Understanding how patients establish strategies for living with asthma: a qualitative study in UK primary care as part of IMP2ART

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (694) ◽  
pp. e303-e311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Daines ◽  
Susan Morrow ◽  
Sharon Wiener-Ogilvie ◽  
Caroline Scott ◽  
Liz Steed ◽  
...  

BackgroundIn the context of a variable condition such as asthma, patient recognition of deteriorating control and knowing what prompt action to take is crucial. Yet, implementation of recommended self-management strategies remains poor.AimTo explore how patients with asthma and parents/carers of children with asthma develop and establish recommended self-management strategies for living with asthma, and how clinicians can best support the process.Design and settingA qualitative study in UK primary care.MethodPatients with asthma and parents/carers of children with asthma from 10 general practices were purposively sampled (using age, sex, and duration of asthma) to participate in focus groups or interviews between May 2016 and August 2016. Participants’ experiences of health care, management of asthma, and views on supported self-management were explored. Interviews and focus group sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Iterative thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the research questions and drawing on habit theory in discussion with a multidisciplinary research team.ResultsA total of 49 participants (45 patients; 4 parents/carers) took part in 32 interviews and five focus groups. Of these, 11 reported using an action plan. Patients learnt how to self-manage over time, building knowledge from personal experience and other sources, such as the internet. Some regular actions, for example, taking medication, became habitual. Dealing with new or unexpected scenarios required reflective abilities, which may be supported by a tailored action plan.ConclusionPatients reported learning intuitively how to self-manage. Some regular actions became habitual; dealing with the unexpected required more reflective cognitive skills. In order to support implementation of optimal asthma self- management, clinicians should consider both these aspects of self-management and support, and educate patients proactively.

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (9) ◽  
pp. 819-824
Author(s):  
Siti Nurkamilla Ramdzan ◽  
Ee Ming Khoo ◽  
Su May Liew ◽  
Steven Cunningham ◽  
Marilyn Kendall ◽  
...  

ObjectiveWe aimed to explore the views of Malaysian children with asthma and their parents to enhance understanding of early influences on development of self-management skills.DesignThis is a qualitative study conducted among children with asthma and their parents. We used purposive sampling and conducted focus groups and interviews using a semi-structured topic guide in the participants’ preferred language. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, entered into NVivo and analysed using a grounded theory approach.SettingsWe identified children aged 7–12 years with parent-reported, physician-diagnosed asthma from seven suburban primary schools in Malaysia. Focus groups and interviews were conducted either at schools or a health centre.ResultsNinety-nine participants (46 caregivers, 53 children) contributed to 24 focus groups and 6 individual interviews. Children mirrored their parents’ management of asthma but, in parallel, learnt and gained confidence to independently self-manage asthma from their own experiences and self-experimentation. Increasing independence was more apparent in children aged 10 years and above. Cultural norms and beliefs influenced children’s independence to self-manage asthma either directly or indirectly through their social network. External influences, for example, support from school and healthcare, also played a role in the transition.ConclusionChildren learnt the skills to self-manage asthma as early as 7 years old with growing independence from the age of 10 years. Healthcare professionals should use child-centred approach and involve schools to facilitate asthma self-management and support a smooth transition to independent self-management.Trial registration numberMalaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR-15-1242-26898).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Silva-Lavigne ◽  
Alena Valderrama ◽  
Sandra Pelaez ◽  
Myriam Bransi ◽  
Fabio Balli ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric disease. Despite existing tools to manage asthma, 40-55% of children with asthma suffer from uncontrolled asthma. Serious games (SGs) represent a novel approach in promoting asthma education and self-management for children. OBJECTIVE In this qualitative study with an embedded quantitative design, we used focus groups and questionnaires to describe the perceived role of SGs in different aspects of asthma self-management by children and their parents. These aspects include asthma perception and knowledge, the impact of asthma and barriers to asthma self-management, and the support system for asthma self-management. METHODS Five children with asthma and their parents were invited to participate during an organized gaming session. Children and their parents filled out a pre-gaming questionnaire on their medical history and asthma knowledge. They were then invited to test four original SGs prototypes, after which the children answered a post-gaming questionnaire on their asthma knowledge and perception of the SGs. Children and their parents subsequently participated in parallel focus groups which were video- and/or audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by reaching consensus among members of the research team. RESULTS The mean age of the children was 10.3 year, with 20% being male. Qualitative data from the transcripts were coded into three separate domains: 1) asthma self-management perception and knowledge, 2) impact of asthma and barriers to asthma self-management, and 3) support system for asthma self-management. We specifically explored the perceived roles of SGs within each of these domains. A key takeaway message was identified for each of these three domains: 1) Heterogeneity of asthma knowledge and the ability of SGs to encourage knowledge transfer through games, 2) Consequences and limitations of asthma and the ability of SGs to allow for identification and management of real-life situations through games, and 3) Insufficient support system and the ability of SGs to encourage playing with others for support and shared knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Our study explored the role of SGs in the self-management of asthma as perceived by children and their parents. Our findings support the acceptability of SGs in asthma education and self-management in pediatrics and the necessity for future development in this field.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Deibel ◽  
Michelle Edwards ◽  
Adrian Edwards

Background: Self-management is a process increasingly promoted for the management of long term conditions, both for ethical reasons of enhancing autonomy and for likely cost-effectiveness, but the nature and scope of self-management strategies are currently highly variable.Objective: To identify patients’, carers’ and clinicians’ current experiences of self-management in multiple sclerosis (MS) and their recommendations for the development of a future MS-specific self-management interventionMethods: Qualitative study using focus groups and semi-structured one-to-one interviews with a purposive sample. Three focus groups were held with 25 patients with moderate to advanced multiple sclerosis and 4 carers. Ten clinicians were interviewed. Data underwent thematic analysis.Results: Participants perceived multiple aspects of MS to be amenable to self-management, but identified a current lack of service provision to support their abilities to self-manage. Participants felt that to address both the physical and psychosocial challenges posed by MS required better information provision, a strong relationship with healthcare professionals and a toolkit of self-management skills. Participants expressed concern at the lack of consideration currently given to carers, which should be addressed in future provision.Conclusion: The diverse experiences of patients living with MS warrant a multidisciplinary, flexible and proactive approach to improve their self-management capabilities, acknowledging both patients’ and carers’ unmet needs. The findings can be used to guide the development of future self-management interventions specific to individuals with multiple sclerosis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Radovic ◽  
Nathan Anderson ◽  
Megan Hamm ◽  
Brandie George-Milford ◽  
Carrie Fascetti ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Screening Wizard (SW) is a technology-based decision support tool aimed at guiding primary care providers (PCPs) to respond to depression and suicidality screens in adolescents. Separate screens assess adolescents’ and parents’ reports on mental health symptoms, treatment preferences, and potential treatment barriers. A detailed summary is provided to PCPs, also identifying adolescent-parent discrepancies. The goal of SW is to enhance decision making to increase utilization of evidence-based treatments. OBJECTIVE We describe a multi-stakeholder qualitative study with adolescents, parents, and providers to understand potential barriers to implementation of SW. METHODS We interviewed 11 parents and 11 adolescents, and conducted 2 focus groups with 17 healthcare providers (PCPs, nurses, therapists, staff) across 2 pediatric practices. Participants described previous experiences with screening for depression and were shown a mock-up of SW and asked for feedback. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim, and codebooks inductively developed based on content. Transcripts were double-coded, and disagreements adjudicated to full agreement. Completed coding was used to produce thematic analyses of interviews and focus groups. RESULTS We identified five main themes across the interviews and focus groups: (1) parents, adolescents, and pediatric PCPs agree that depression screening should occur in pediatric primary care; (2) there is concern that accurate self-disclosure does not always occur during depression screening; (3) Screening Wizard is viewed as a tool that could facilitate depression screening, and which might encourage more honesty in screening responses; (4) parents, adolescents and providers do not want Screening Wizard to replace mental health discussions with providers; and (5) providers want to maintain autonomy in treatment decisions. CONCLUSIONS We identified that providers, parents, and adolescents all have concerns with current screening practices, mainly regarding inaccurate self-disclosure. They recognized value in SW as a computerized tool that may elicit more honest responses and identify adolescent-parent discrepancies. Surprisingly, providers did not want the SW report to include treatment recommendations, and all groups did not want the SW report to replace conversations with the PCP about depression. While SW was originally developed as a treatment decision algorithm, this qualitative study has led us to remove this component, and instead focus on aspects identified as most useful by all groups. We hope that this initial qualitative work will improve future implementation of SW.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachelle Ashcroft ◽  
Catherine Donnelly ◽  
Maya Dancey ◽  
Sandeep Gill ◽  
Simon Lam ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Integrated primary care teams are ideally positioned to support the mental health care needs arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how COVID-19 has affected mental health care delivery within primary care settings will be critical to inform future policy and practice decisions during the later phases of the pandemic and beyond. The objective of our study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care teams’ delivery of mental health care. Methods A qualitative study using focus groups conducted with primary care teams in Ontario, Canada. Focus group data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results We conducted 11 focus groups with 10 primary care teams and a total of 48 participants. With respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care in primary care teams, we identified three key themes: i) the high demand for mental health care, ii) the rapid transformation to virtual care, and iii) the impact on providers. Conclusions From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care quickly responded to the rising mental health care demands of their patients. Despite the numerous challenges they faced with the rapid transition to virtual care, primary care teams have persevered. It is essential that policy and decision-makers take note of the toll that these demands have placed on providers. There is an immediate need to enhance primary care’s capacity for mental health care for the duration of the pandemic and beyond.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp19X703505
Author(s):  
Joseph Clark ◽  
Elvis Amoakwa ◽  
John Blenkinsopp ◽  
Florence Reedy ◽  
Miriam Johnson

BackgroundResearch to identify the role of primary care in cancer care is important. However, trials in primary care are difficult.AimTo understand how patients, families, and primary care clinicians view their role in cancer care and identify opportunities for cancer primary care research.MethodQualitative study embedded within a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of a primary care based needs assessment intervention. The Supportive Cancer Needs Survey (SCNS) was the main outcome. In-depth interviews with patients/carers and focus groups with primary care staff explored views on cancer care and trial participation. Data were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically by three independent researchers.ResultsFifteen cancer patients and three carers were interviewed and four focus groups (n = 11) were conducted. Three themes were generated satisfaction with current care; key time-points for improved cancer care; and information and research. Satisfaction with current care among patients was high in spite of 72% reporting at least one moderate-high unmet need at baseline. Most patients undergoing cancer treatment were unsure when to access primary care. Patients and carers highly valued proactive contact from their practice following diagnosis though this was uncommon. Post-oncology discharge was a key time-point for information needs and support for patients. Patients were reluctant to consider palliative care in spite of palliative care needs. Some felt therapeutic benefit from completing study measures.ConclusionPatients are satisfied with cancer primary care despite unmet needs. Palliative care is poorly understood by many who may benefit. Research participation may benefit some patients.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002831
Author(s):  
Meena Kalluri ◽  
Sarah Younus ◽  
Nathan Archibald ◽  
Janice Richman-Eisenstat ◽  
Charlotte Pooler

BackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, incurable fibrotic lung disease in which patients and caregivers report a high symptom burden. Symptoms are often poorly managed and patients and caregivers struggle to alleviate their distress in the absence of self-management support.AimTo explore perceptions of symptoms, symptom management strategies and self-efficacy for patients with IPF and caregivers who received self-management education and action plans created and provided in a Multidisciplinary Collaborative Interstitial Lung Disease (MDC-ILD) Clinic.DesignA qualitative study was conducted with participants recruited from the MDC-ILD Clinic. Participants received an early integrated palliative approach; most attended ILD pulmonary rehabilitation and some received home care support. Semistructured interviews were conducted. Patient participants completed Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) for symptom assessment and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Self-Efficacy Scale to assess self-management efficacy.ResultsThirteen patients and eight self-declared caregiver participants were interviewed. IPF severity ranged from mild to advanced disease. Participants integrated and personalised self-management strategies. They were intentional and confident, focused on living well and engaged in anticipatory planning. Twelve participants completed the MYMOP. Five reported dyspnoea. Four reported fatigue as an additional or only symptom. One reported cough. Five declared no dyspnoea, cough or fatigue. Participants reported 80% self-efficacy in symptom management.ConclusionsThe approach to symptom self-management and education was beneficial to patients with IPF and caregiver participants. Participants personalised the strategies, focusing on living, and planned both in the moment and for the future. They were confident and expressed dignity and meaning in their lives.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrien Danhieux ◽  
Veerle Buffel ◽  
Anthony Pairon ◽  
Asma Benkheil ◽  
Roy Remmen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic affects the processes of routine care for chronic patients. A better understanding helps to increase resilience of the health system and prepare adequately for next waves of the pandemic. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in 16 primary care practices: 6 solo working, 4 monodisciplinary and 7 multidisciplinary. Twenty-one people (doctors, nurses, dieticians) were interviewed, using semi-structured video interviews. A thematic analysis was done using the domains of the Chronic Care Model (CCM). Results Three themes emerged: changes in health care organization, risk stratification and self-management support. All participating practices reported drastic changes in organization with a collective shift towards COVID-19 care, and reduction of chronic care activities, less consultations, and staff responsible for self-management support put on hold. A transition to digital support did not occur. Few practitioners had a systematic approach to identify and contact high-risk patients for early follow-up. A practice with a pre-established structured team collaboration managed to continue most chronic care elements. Generally, practitioners expected no effects of the temporary disruption for patients, although they expressed concern about patients already poorly regulated. Conclusion Our findings show a disruption of the delivery of chronic care in the Belgium prim care context. In such contexts, the establishment of the CCM can facilitate continuity of care in crisis times. Short term actions should be directed to facilitate identifying high-risk patients and to develop a practice organization plan to organize chronic care and use digital channels for support, especially to vulnerable patients, during next waves of the epidemic.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 205031211351000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Kenning ◽  
Louise Fisher ◽  
Penny Bee ◽  
Peter Bower ◽  
Peter Coventry

2021 ◽  
pp. BJGP.2020.1118
Author(s):  
Bethany Kate Bareham ◽  
Jemma Stewart ◽  
Eileen Kaner ◽  
Barbara Hanratty

Background: Risk of harm from drinking is heightened in later life, due to age-related sensitivities to alcohol. Primary care services have a key role in supporting older people to make healthier decisions about alcohol. Aim: To examine primary care practitioners’ perceptions of factors that promote and challenge their work to support older people in alcohol risk-reduction. Design and Setting: Qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with primary care practitioners in Northern England. Method: Thirty-five practitioners (general practitioners, practice/district nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social care practitioners, domiciliary carers) participated in eight interviews and five focus groups. Data were analysed thematically, applying principles of constant comparison. Results: Practitioners highlighted particular sensitivities amongst older people to discussing alcohol, and reservations about older people’s resistance to making changes in old age; given drinking practices could be established, and promote socialisation and emotional wellbeing in later life. Age-related health issues increased older people’s contact with practitioners; but management of older people’s long-term conditions was prioritised over discussion of alcohol. Dedicated time to address alcohol in routine consultations with older people, and training in alcohol intervention facilitated practitioners; particularly pharmacists and practice nurses. Conclusion: There are clear opportunities to support older people in primary care to make healthier decisions about alcohol. Dedicated time to address alcohol, training in identification of alcohol-related risks, particularly those associated with old age; and tailored interventions for older people, feasible to implement in practice settings, would support primary care practitioners to address older people’s alcohol use.


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