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Preliminary work for the development of a clinically relevant measure of chronic disease self-management and activation
Investigator (PI): Kephart, George
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology / (902) 494-3860
Supporting Agency (SA): Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation
Initial Year: 2015
Final Year: 2018
Record Source/Award ID: NSHRF/10083
Funding: Total Award Amount: $14,796
Award Type: Grant
Abstract: Nova Scotia has the highest rates of chronic disease in Canada. When patients have the knowledge, skills, and the right support, they become active partners in their own health care. Research has shown that this improves health outcomes and the quality of life. A focus of health reforms in Nova Scotia is to support and promote self-management. Despite nearly three decades of emphasis on self-management, clear understanding of what self-management is and how to measure it is lacking. Currently available measures of self-management have serious problems. They do not reflect what we have learned about the many tasks that people with chronic conditions have to manage. Measures currently being used are assumed to measure the same thing, but our research shows that they do not. They lack the ability to assess the many challenges that individuals with different or multiple conditions face (for example living with diabetes is different from living with multiple sclerosis or living with both). They are not designed to track self-management from prevention to severe disability. These problems make it difficult for health providers to offer treatments and guidance that are specific to people's needs, and to select the right supports and programs for individual patients. This research will commence the process of developing a new measure that will help clinicians and health care managers figure out what services and programs are most effective at helping patients manage life with their conditions.
MeSH Terms:
  • Chronic Disease /*therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Continuity of Patient Care
  • Diabetes Complications /therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus /therapy
  • Disabled Persons
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis /complications
  • /therapy
  • Nova Scotia
  • Program Evaluation
  • Quality of Life
  • * Self Care
Keywords:
  • chronic disease management
  • measurement
  • patient activation
  • patient-centred outcomes
  • primary care
  • self-management
Country: Canada
State: Nova Scotia
Zip Code: B3H 1V7
UI: 20161252
Project Status: Completed