TY - JOUR
T1 - Is Europe putting theory into practice?
T2 - A qualitative study of the level of self-management support in chronic care management approaches
AU - Elissen, Arianne
AU - Nolte, Ellen
AU - Knai, Cécile
AU - Brunn, Matthias
AU - Chevreul, Karine
AU - Conklin, Annalijn
AU - Durand-Zaleski, Isabelle
AU - Erler, Antje
AU - Flamm, Maria
AU - Frølich, Anne
AU - Fullerton, Birgit
AU - Jacobsen, Ramune
AU - Saz-Parkinson, Zuleika
AU - Sarria-Santamera, Antonio
AU - Sönnichsen, Andreas
AU - Vrijhoef, Hubertus
PY - 2013/3/26
Y1 - 2013/3/26
N2 - BACKGROUND: Self-management support is a key component of effective chronic care management, yet in practice appears to be the least implemented and most challenging. This study explores whether and how self-management support is integrated into chronic care approaches in 13 European countries. In addition, it investigates the level of and barriers to implementation of support strategies in health care practice.METHODS: We conducted a review among the 13 participating countries, based on a common data template informed by the Chronic Care Model. Key informants presented a sample of representative chronic care approaches and related self-management support strategies. The cross-country review was complemented by a Dutch case study of health professionals' views on the implementation of self-management support in practice.RESULTS: Self-management support for chronically ill patients remains relatively underdeveloped in Europe. Similarities between countries exist mostly in involved providers (nurses) and settings (primary care). Differences prevail in mode and format of support, and materials used. Support activities focus primarily on patients' medical and behavioral management, and less on emotional management. According to Dutch providers, self-management support is not (yet) an integral part of daily practice; implementation is hampered by barriers related to, among others, funding, IT and medical culture.CONCLUSIONS: Although collaborative care for chronic conditions is becoming more important in European health systems, adequate self-management support for patients with chronic disease is far from accomplished in most countries. There is a need for better understanding of how we can encourage both patients and health care providers to engage in productive interactions in daily chronic care practice, which can improve health and social outcomes.
AB - BACKGROUND: Self-management support is a key component of effective chronic care management, yet in practice appears to be the least implemented and most challenging. This study explores whether and how self-management support is integrated into chronic care approaches in 13 European countries. In addition, it investigates the level of and barriers to implementation of support strategies in health care practice.METHODS: We conducted a review among the 13 participating countries, based on a common data template informed by the Chronic Care Model. Key informants presented a sample of representative chronic care approaches and related self-management support strategies. The cross-country review was complemented by a Dutch case study of health professionals' views on the implementation of self-management support in practice.RESULTS: Self-management support for chronically ill patients remains relatively underdeveloped in Europe. Similarities between countries exist mostly in involved providers (nurses) and settings (primary care). Differences prevail in mode and format of support, and materials used. Support activities focus primarily on patients' medical and behavioral management, and less on emotional management. According to Dutch providers, self-management support is not (yet) an integral part of daily practice; implementation is hampered by barriers related to, among others, funding, IT and medical culture.CONCLUSIONS: Although collaborative care for chronic conditions is becoming more important in European health systems, adequate self-management support for patients with chronic disease is far from accomplished in most countries. There is a need for better understanding of how we can encourage both patients and health care providers to engage in productive interactions in daily chronic care practice, which can improve health and social outcomes.
KW - Chronic Disease/therapy
KW - Europe
KW - Humans
KW - Models, Theoretical
KW - Organizational Case Studies
KW - Qualitative Research
KW - Self Care
KW - Social Support
U2 - 10.1186/1472-6963-13-117
DO - 10.1186/1472-6963-13-117
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23530744
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 13
SP - 117
JO - BMC Health Services Research
JF - BMC Health Services Research
ER -