Patient Self-Management Support Programs: An Evaluation

Information on:

• The disease and symptoms.
• Benefits of self-management.
• Areas needing self-management (diet, physical activity, smoking, environment, medication compliance, etc.).
• How to self-manage.
• Medications and side effects.
• Resources available.

• Medical information on the disease, symptoms, medications, side effects, outcome, medical terminology, etc.
• Information on self-management tasks needed and their benefits.
• Applicable clinical practice guidelines.
• Information on resources available.
• Information on the patient's condition, comorbidities, and information needs.
• Ability and resources to communicate.

Supportive interventions:

• Assessment of perceptions, motivations, confidence, abilities, needs, and goals related to living well with condition.
• Building motivation to self-manage (e.g., alter behavior, comply with meds, monitor symptoms, etc.).
• Increase confidence and self-efficacy for the specific self-management behaviors needed.
• Collaboratively define problems and barriers to self-management.
• Collaboratively set self-management goals.
• Develop problem-solving skills and help with problem-solving.
• Provide emotional support .
• Facilitate stress management.
• Provide followup regarding reassessment, goals, problem-solving, reinforcement, prompts, and reminders.

• Assessment tools and skills.
• Skills and ability to work collaboratively with patients (garner trust, listen carefully, solicit and accept patient's own priorities).
• Psychosocial skills, abilities, and tools to engage patients and enhance motivation, confidence, and self-efficacy.
• Stress management knowledge and skills.
• Information and technology to prompt and inform followup.
• Information on patient's prior goals, problems, needs, knowledge, behavior change successes and failures, meds compliance, and visit compliance.
• Protocols for synthesizing assessment data into priorities for supportive interventions.
• Protocols for providing support (for motivating, building confidence, problem solving, setting goals collaboratively, etc.).