Self-management Support Research Articles

Acquisition, application, and distribution of health literacy from culturally sensitive type 2 diabetes education among Arabic-Speaking migrants in Denmark: A longitudinal qualitative analysis.

Effective self-management of type 2 diabetes requires adequate health literacy (HL) and a supportive network. Diabetes self-management education and support programmes play a crucial role in improving these factors. However, limited research exists on how such programmes can support health literacy among migrants and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge within their social networks. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Arabic-speaking informants with a migrant background in relation to how their type 2 diabetes-related health literacy was acquired, applied and distributed within social networks through participation in a culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 informants during the programme and three to 7 months later, from September 2019 to May 2020. Abductive analysis was applied using HL and distributed health literacy (DHL) theory as frameworks. The analysis generated three themes: (1) sources of health information and the development of health literacy; (2) changes towards active self-management; and (3) distributed health literacy. Prior to programme participation, informants faced challenges in navigating conflicting information from family, friends and social media. After participating in the programme, they reported improvements in HL, particularly in knowledge acquisition. Many became more actively engaged in decision-making and exhibited improved health behaviours, such as dietary choices. Nonetheless, some informants continued to struggle with choosing appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. Notably, certain informants acted as HL mediators, sharing their newly acquired knowledge within their social networks in Denmark and abroad. Culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education programmes have the potential to enhance HL among migrants, leading to the distribution of relevant diabetes knowledge within their social networks. Future studies should explore how members of migrants' social networks perceive their supportive role in type 2 diabetes management. Programmes can benefit from emphasising critical HL and exploring how participant-informants effectively communicate diabetes-related knowledge within their networks to address misinformation and conflicting information.

Nursing care for diabetes mellitus

Background. Due to the global rise in diabetes patients, nurses of all specialties and positions are increasingly caring for these individuals on a daily basis. The purpose of this study was to examine the latest re­commendations and individual studies on diabetes management and to determine the place of nurses in a multidisciplinary team. Materials and methods. The article used descriptive methods and methods of comparative analysis to determine the characteristics of nursing practice in the management of patients with diabetes. Results. From the information studied, it became clear that nurses should be prepared to receive quality education associated with ongoing support and care in the community, primary health care institutions or in hospitals for such patients. Education in self-management and psychosocial problem solving are key elements of diabetes care and nursing. The Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support program is a crucial tool for patient-nurse communication, involving ongoing psychological support through educational techniques to address questions and concerns from individuals with diabetes and their families. Conclusions. Trained nurses can also perform screening for mental disorders and diabetes complications in order to timely diagnose or prevent their development. Regardless of new technologies or treatments, nurses must never lose their role as advocates for patients’ rights.

Current status of heart failure management in Vietnam

Heart failure is a growing public health issue with high mortality and hospitalization rates. Comprehensive management programs are needed to improve outcomes and reduce costs. In Vietnam, there are gaps in guideline-directed medical therapy, lack of a multidisciplinary approach, inadequate patient education, and poor continuity from inpatient to outpatient care. However, management programs are evolving with 29 hospitals having established programs. Initial results show improved use of medications, reduced hospitalizations and mortality, and better quality of life in some programs. Challenges remain around resources, costs, patient diversity, and lack of standardization. Standardization initiatives like EuroHeart are working to define common data sets and care standards internationally. Effective programs require optimized hospital treatment, comprehensive discharge planning, structured follow up, and patient selfmanagement support. Further government support, healthcare professional training, public education, research, and regional collaborations are needed to advance heart failure care in Vietnam.

Nurses' perspectives on challenges and facilitators when implementing a self-management support intervention as an everyday healthcare practice: A qualitative study.

To explore registered nurses' perspectives on challenges and facilitators to implementing a telephone-based self-management support (SMS) intervention (Proactive Health Support) as an everyday healthcare practice, during the early stages of implementation. Data were collected using a qualitative research design involving focus-group interviews and participant observations. We conducted participant observation following nine nurses and four focus group interviews with 14 nurses. Data were analysed using thematic analyses. Proactive Health Support was implemented in units organized independently of the existing organizational units within healthcare services. This independent organization, along with the intervention's generic (non-disease specific) design, empowered nurses to become autonomous practitioners capable of prioritizing the operationalization of SMS as an everyday healthcare practice. However, unlearning already embedded medical practices and establishing new nursing roles necessary to accommodate the intervention in practice was experienced a challenge. Education and supervision were identified as valuable tools for successful implementation. Our study highlights the significance of organizational context and autonomy in successful SMS implementation. Balancing external factors like organizational context, priority and time is vital, but navigating the internal shift in professional practice is equally crucial. Role transition processes can constitute challenges demanding accommodation. From a nursing perspective, this study highlights that practising SMS requires substantial training and education. Generic SMS interventions can introduce higher levels of contingency due to their versatile nature. Thus, equipping nurses with competencies that enable them to navigate this unpredictability flexibly is crucial. Policymakers and administrators should allocate resources and support implementation processes in ways that accommodate both internal and external conditions to facilitate nurses in delivering effective SMS. This study adheres to the SRQR guideline. No patient or public contribution.

Effects of family-based diabetes self-management education and support programme on support behaviour amongst adults with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia

Support from family and peers may enhance the outcomes of diabetes management. This study reported the preliminary effect of a family-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programme on the perceived support status of people with diabetes and the family’s caregiver support behaviour amongst dyads living in Western Ethiopia. A 1:1 two-armed pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. A total of 76 dyads were recruited using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups. The control group continued the usual care, whereas the intervention group continued the usual care and additionally received a 12-h social cognitive theory (SCT)-guided, family-supported DSMES programme in the community. Generalised estimating equations models were computed to test the preliminary effects of the DSMES programme on the outcomes. P-value < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. The pilot RCT shows a statistically significant between-group difference in the changes in support needed at T1 (d = 0.88) and T2 (d = 1.35) and support received at T1 (d = 0.88) and T2 (d = 1.44). The DSMES programme has outperformed usual care with a medium effect size at T1 (d = 0.54) and a large effect size at T2 (d = 0.97) on the family’s supportive behaviour. Although the intervention group was not statistically significant at T1 (d = 0.43), a large effect size was obtained at T2 (d = 0.97) on the family’s non-supportive behaviour. A SCT-guided, family-supported DSMES programme produced a promising positive effect on enhancing the support needed and support received from their family/friends, and it also improved the family’s supportive behaviour. Thus, family support could be incorporated into DSMES programmes for diabetes management in Western Ethiopia. The trial was registered by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn); Registration number: ChiCTR2000040292.

Uptake of diabetes follow-up checks by minority community groups: a rapid review of the evidence for the CYMELL study

BackgroundType 2 diabetes is a public health priority for the UK. A growing body of evidence has indicated ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in rates of diabetes prevalence and complications. Attendance at diabetes follow-up checks is key to ensuring complications are identified and managed at an early stage. The aim of this rapid review was to identify and summarise evidence of ways to improve diabetes management in ethnic minority groups. MethodsIn this rapid review, we searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and CINAHL for studies published in English between Jan 1, 2000, and Jan 31, 2023. Studies were included if the population was from ethnic minority groups and if the intervention was community-based and aimed to improve diabetes self-care. The comparisons were persuasion and behaviour change, and the outcomes were improved diabetes self-management including, glycaemic control, attending eye tests, kidney, and foot screening follow-up checks. This study is registered with PROSPERO 2023, CRD42023399283. FindingsNine studies were included, from Mexico (n=1), USA (n=7), and UK (n=1). Most studies reported on community engagement (n=8), and one focussed on peer support and diabetes self-management. Peer support and diabetes self-management education were found to significantly improve diabetes control in a Mayan community (n=29) in Mexico (p<0·0001) and in the Korean American (n=105), African American (n=107), and Latino American (n=56) communities in the USA. Another study showed that women from the Pakistani community in England also benefitted from a culturally appropriate and socially supportive environment when learning about diabetes self-management. Diabetic eye screening rates could be increased through education but not through incentive payments. InterpretationCulturally competent health-care policies and programmes have been shown to increase diabetes self-management including uptake of diabetes screening for people with diabetes from ethnic minority communities to avoid potential harmful and life limiting conditions. A strength of this review is that robust, recent, and relevant papers regarding self-management of diabetes were included. The main limitations were that none of the nine studies included any cost analyses, and only one UK-based study was included, indicating that further research is required to fill the evidence gap. FundingResearch for Patient and Public Benefit (RfPPB), Health and Care Research Wales.

CareKnowDo-A Multichannel Digital and Telephone Support Program for People With Chronic Kidney Disease: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common, progressive condition. Lifestyle changes and antihypertensive medication can slow the progression to end-stage kidney disease, which requires renal replacement therapy. However, adherence to these recommendations is often low. The aim of CareKnowDo was to assess the feasibility of rolling out a digital self-management support and adherence program integrated with a patient-facing electronic health record, Patient View (PV). A 2-arm, parallel, individual-level pragmatic feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at 2 National Health Service (NHS) sites in the United Kingdom. A total of 61 patients with CKD were randomized 1:1 into 2 groups and provided with either a new, tailored digital and telephone support program (CareKnowDo: 31/61, 51%) integrated with PV or standard care (PV alone: 30/61, 49%). Quantitative measures included clinical and psychosocial measures. The primary outcomes were feasibility based: recruitment rate, dropout, and the exploration of associations. Of the 1392 patients screened in local kidney clinics, 269 (19.32%) met the basic inclusion criteria; the first 22.7% (61/269) who met the eligibility criteria were recruited to participate in the study. Of the 69 patients, 23 (38%) patients completed the final 6-month follow-up web-based survey. Reasons for the attrition were explored. A higher belief in the ability of the treatment to control CKD was associated with lower blood pressure at baseline (r=0.52; P=.005), and a higher perceived understanding of CKD at baseline was associated with lower blood pressure at follow-up (r=0.66; P<.001). Beliefs about medicines at baseline were associated with blood pressure at baseline but not at follow-up. This was true for both concerns about medicines (r=0.58; P=.001) and perceived necessity of medicines (r=0.42; P=.03). A tailored digital and nurse call-based program to enhance support for patients with CKD was piloted in 2 NHS sites and found to be feasible and acceptable. However, to maximize the effectiveness of the intervention (and of future trials), consideration should be given to the target audience most likely to benefit, as well as how to help them access the program as quickly and easily as possible. NHS Health Research Authority, IRAS ID 184206; https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving -research/application-summaries/research-summaries/careknowdo-pilot-version-1/.

Effect of Exercise Therapy on Incident Admission in Patients with Type 2Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Inpatient Diabetes Self-manageme ntEducation and Support.

Exercise therapy is the key to preventing admission of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, a few studies have examined the effects of exercise therapy on patients with T2DM undergoing inpatient diabetes self-management education and support (IDSMES). This study investigated whether exercise therapy influenced the incidence of admission after discharge in patients with T2DM undergoing IDSMES. This retrospective cohort study included patients with T2DM who underwent IDSMES between June 2011 and May 2015. Overall, 258 patients were included in this study. The exercise therapy program was implemented in June 2013. Accordingly, patients diagnosed between June 2011 and May 2013 were categorized as the non-exercise therapy program group, while those diagnosed between June 2013 and May 2015 were categorized as the exercise therapy program group. Outcomes were incident diabetes-related and all-cause admissions within 1 year of discharge. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the exercise therapy program's impact on the outcomes. Within 1 year of discharge, 27 (10.5%) patients underwent diabetes-related admissions and 62 (24.0%) underwent all-cause admissions. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed a significant association of the exercise therapy program with incident diabetes-related and allcause admissions [OR: 0.22 (95% CI: 0.08-0.59) and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.22-0.86), respectively]. Exercise therapy programs significantly lowered the incidences of diabetes-related and all-cause admissions. This indicates that implementing exercise therapy during hospitalization may be important for preventing admissions of patients with T2DM receiving IDSMES.

Self-management challenges and support needs among patients with primary glaucoma: a qualitative study

BackgroundSelf-management plays an important role in the disease management of glaucoma patients. The effectiveness of the program can be improved by assessing the patient’s perspective and needs to tailor self-management support. Most studies have focused on assessing one of these self-management behaviours, such as medication adherence, and there is a lack of systematic assessment of the support needs and challenges of self-management for patients with glaucoma. Therefore, in this study, we conducted an in-depth investigation into the self-management challenges and support needs of patients with primary glaucoma, providing a basis for nursing staff to implement self-management support.MethodThe phenomenological method and semistructured interviews were used in this study. A total of 20 patients with primary glaucoma were recruited between June and December 2022. Colaizzi’s analysis method was used to analyse the interview data.ResultsChallenges for patients include becoming an expert in glaucoma, managing negative emotions, adapting to daily life changes and resuming social activities. To address these challenges, four themes of patient self-management support needs were identified: (1) health information support, (2) social support, (3) psychological support, and (4) daily living support.ConclusionPatients with primary glaucoma experience varying degrees of challenge in dealing with medical, emotional, and social aspects. Comprehending the support needs of patients, healthcare professionals should deliver targeted, personalized and comprehensive self-management interventions to enhance their capacity of patients to perform self-management and improve their quality of life.

Pathway analysis of the impact of health literacy, social support and self-efficacy on self-management behaviors in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathways by which health literacy (HL), social support, and self-efficacy influence self-management behaviors of pregnant women with Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the interrelationships between the variables. A total of 565 pregnant women with GDM was recruited. The Demographic Characteristics Form, Health Literacy Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, General Self-efficacy Scale and GDM Self-management Behavior Scale were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, zero-ordered correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed on the variables; Structural Equation Model (SEM) were constructed for pathway analysis. A positive correlation was found between health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors among pregnant women with GDM after adjusting for age, education level, income level, work status, parity, and family history of diabetes (r ranging from 0.203 to 0.533). A further multiple linear regression analysis showed that functional HL, communicative HL, critical HL, social support, and self-efficacy were all independent influences on self-management behaviors and accounted for 36.3% of the variance. Communicative HL and critical HL explained the strongest self-management behaviors (β = 0.316 and 0.255, respectively, p < 0.001). The SEM model was suitable for χ2/DF = 2.860, RMSEA = 0.060, IFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.943, and CFI = 0.952. The results showed direct positive effects of health literacy on self-management behaviors and self-efficacy, direct positive effects of social support on health literacy and self-efficacy. Social support and self-efficacy have had no significant direct impact on self-management behaviors, but social support may indirectly influence self-management behaviors through the health literacy mediation role. Healthcare providers should pay attention to the positive impacts of health literacy and social support on self-management behaviors of pregnant women with GDM. Improving the health literacy level of pregnant women with GDM should be the key point of intervention in practice, and the social support system should be fully mobilized to enhance emotional support and life support to promote the improvement of self-management behaviors.

Confidence of practitioners to support self-management of pain: A multidisciplinary survey.

Supported self-management is an important component of management for persistent pain according to current recommendations and guidelines. However, it is unclear whether staff from differing disciplines who may be in early contact with people with established or developing persistent pain are confident to introduce and support self-management for this patient group. To determine the confidence of staff across professional disciplines to introduce and support self-management. Cross-sectional online survey. Charts were constructed to represent information on professional grouping, prior training in self-management and confidence in supporting key components of self-management for persistent pain. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences between groups. Overall, 165 practitioners reported confidence to support self-management below the midpoint of a ten-point scale and 93 above. There were few differences between different professions apart from in explaining pain (f = 6.879 p < .001), managing activity levels (f = 6.340 p < .001) and supporting healthy habits (f = 4.700, p = .001) in which physiotherapists expressed higher confidence than other professional groups. There was no difference in confidence expressed between staff who had or had not received previous training in self-management (f = 1.357, p = .233). Many front-line staff who might be expected to introduce and deliver self-management support for persistent pain lack the confidence and skills to do so. This is consistent with a known lack of education about pain across disciplinary boundaries in primary and community-based care. In order to meet treatment priorities for persistent pain there is an urgent need to upskill the workforce by providing access to good quality training and resources.

Loss to primary care provider follow-up among survivors five to seven years post-diagnosis.

331 Background: Cancer survivors experience better outcomes when primary care providers (PCPs) are engaged in their care. Several studies indicate that nearly all survivors have ≥1 PCP visits per year in the initial five years post-diagnosis; however, little is known about sustained PCP engagement in survivors’ care. Our objective was to assess PCP engagement in survivors’ care 5-7 years post-diagnosis, and to characterize survivors who are most vulnerable to loss to PCP follow-up. Methods: We linked electronic health record ambulatory care visit data to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (AHWFBCCC) registry data to identify survivors who were (1) ages ≥18 years, (2) diagnosed with a breast, colorectal, or uterine cancer between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015, (3) treated at AHWFBCCC as of September 1, 2019, and (4) had a PCP in the WF Health Network. We used multiple logistic regression to assess associations between survivor demographics, clinical factors, and healthcare utilization and odds of sustained PCP engagement in care, defined as having at least one ambulatory visit per year with a family or internal medicine provider. Results: There were 638 survivors who met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 122 died within the six-year post-diagnosis period and were excluded from analysis. Our analytic sample included 516 survivors who were primarily female (88.4%), white (75.0%), non-Hispanic (95.7%) stage 1 (50.6%) breast cancer survivors (69.2%) with a mean age of 60.7 years. Most (84.7%) survivors lived in an urban area at the time of diagnosis. In years 5-7 post-diagnosis, PCPs were engaged in care for 43% of survivors. Survivors with sustained PCP-engagement were on average 4.6 years older than those without (p&lt;0.0001); survivors had 1.36 greater odds of having regular PCP visits for each decade increase in their age upon cancer diagnosis (p=0.0030). Survivors were less likely to be lost to PCP follow-up in if they were diagnosed at an earlier stage (p=0.0005) and had at least one visit annually with an oncologist 5-7 years post-diagnosis (p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions: Sustained PCP engagement has been endorsed as critical by survivors, PCPs, and oncologists. In this study, we found that in the 5-7 years post-diagnosis, most (57%) survivors were lost to PCP follow-up. Older survivors, those currently engaged in oncology care, and survivors with earlier stage cancer were less likely to be lost to PCP follow-up, perhaps attributable to higher overall healthcare utilization. Our study may overestimate loss to PCP follow-up since we were unable to assess PCP visits outside of the AHWFB network; however, our findings offer evidence in support of calls for interventions to promote sustained PCP engagement among survivors, including the information, care coordination, and self-management support that survivors and PCPs have consistently reported needing for improved survivorship care and outcomes.

Is Web-Based Program Effective on Self-Care Behaviors and Glycated Hemoglobin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) as a framework focuses on seven self-care behaviors. Moreover, technology-assisted self-care education is increasingly suggested for patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, we examined the effect of a web-based program on self-care behaviors and glycated hemoglobin values in patients with diabetes mellitus. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at Alzahra Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, between April and November 2020 and included 70 patients with T2DM. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included a demographic information section and a diabetes self-management section with 21 questions on a Likert scale. Fasting blood samples (2.50 ml) were collected before and after the interventions to measure HbA1c levels. The study intervention involved a web-based program that included multimedia educational content (such as videos, lectures, educational motion graphics, text files, posters, and podcasts) presented in seven sections based on DSMES over a 21-day period with monitoring by an instructor. The mean scores for healthy eating (F = 3.48, p = 0.034) and medication adherence (F = 6.70, p < 0.001) significantly increased in the interventional group, while the mean scores for being active, monitoring, reducing risks, problem-solving, and healthy coping did not significantly change. Additionally, the mean differences in HbA1c values significantly improved in the interventional group compared to the control (F = 5,1, p = 0.026). A web-based program in accordance with DSMES improved HbA1c levels and increased scores for healthy eating and medication adherence in patients with T2DM. However, further research with larger sample sizes and qualitative interviews is needed.

Supporting Self-Management of Healthy Behaviors (SMART-HABITS) in CKD and Hypertension: A Pilot Trial

Supporting Self-Management of Healthy Behaviors (SMART-HABITS) in CKD and Hypertension: A Pilot Trial

Development of a tool to estimate sugar and caloric contents in alcoholic beverages for a diabetes self-management program in Thailand

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is recommended as a standard of care for patients with diabetes worldwide. Alcohol consumption is one aspect mentioned within the DSMES program in Thailand where alcohol consumption is the highest among Southeast Asian countries. Many diabetes guidelines suggest limiting alcohol intake to not more than one standard drink per day for adult women and two for adult men if they cannot abstain from drinking. In practice, however, the conversion of alcohol consumption into standard drinks, and nutritional information about the calorie and sugar contents of alcoholic beverages, especially domestically produced spirits, are not commonly available in Thailand. By reviewing the diabetes guidelines internationally and the Thailand alcoholic beverage industry, a visual health education tool to help convert different alcoholic beverages into standard drinks and to provide the calorie and sugar content of alcoholic beverages was developed as a part of the DSMES program. It was finalized following pilot testing and focus group discussions with policymakers, healthcare providers, and type 2 diabetes patients. The personalized counseling tool, integrated with guidelines and culturally tailored to the Thai setting is distributed to counselors/educators. It is a potentially useful tool for patients to make informed choices for their self-management of diabetes.

Effectiveness and feasibility of a mobile health self-management intervention in rheumatoid arthritis: study protocol for a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (AEGORA)

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) considerably impacts patients’ lives. Patients’ confidence in their ability to manage this impact, or self-efficacy, can be supported with self-management interventions. One approach is to use mobile health (mHealth) applications, which can additionally provide insight into disease impact by remotely monitoring patient-reported outcomes. However, user engagement with mHealth-apps is variable, and concerns exist that remote monitoring might make patients overly attentive to symptoms.MethodsApp-based Education and GOal setting in RA (AEGORA) is a multicentre, pragmatic randomised controlled trial investigating an mHealth-based self-management intervention to improve self-efficacy and remotely monitor disease impact in patients with RA. The intervention is provided via an adapted version of the application Sidekick (Sidekick Health, Reykjavik, Iceland) and consists of education, goal setting, lifestyle advice, and remote assessment of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) questionnaire.Across two centres, 120 patients will be recruited and randomised (2:1:1) to usual care or intervention group A/B (study app with weekly/monthly prompts to complete the RAID, respectively). Outcomes are assessed at baseline and after 4–6 months. The primary endpoint is a clinically important improvement (≥ 5.5/110) in the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale in the combined intervention group compared to usual care. Secondary endpoints are (a) non-inferiority regarding pain catastrophising, as a measure of symptom hypervigilance; (b) superiority regarding the RAID, sleep quality, and physical activity; and (c) participant engagement with the study app. Finally, the relationship between engagement, prompted frequency of RAID questionnaires, and the primary and secondary outcomes will be explored.DiscussionThe AEGORA trial aims to study the effectiveness of mHealth-based, multicomponent self-management support to improve self-efficacy in the context of RA, while providing potentially valuable insights into temporal disease activity dynamics and the feasibility and possible negative effects of remote symptom monitoring in this population.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT05888181. Retrospectively registered on March 23, 2023. Study inclusion started on March 3, 2023.

Patients’ views and experiences on the supported self-management/patient-initiated follow up pathway for breast cancer

PurposeTo explore patients’ expectations and experience of Supportive Self-Management (SSM)/ Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) following breast cancer treatments over a 12-month period.MethodsIn total, 32/110 (29%) patient participants in the PRAGMATIC (Patients’ experiences of a suppoRted self-manAGeMent pAThway In breast Cancer) study were interviewed at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews in this sub-study used a mix-methods approach to explore understanding of the pathway, confidence in self-management, triggers to seek help and/or re-engage with the clinical breast team and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses to pre-assigned categories were summarised as counts/ percentages and collated in tabular or graphic format. Free responses were recorded verbatim and reviewed using framework analysis.ResultsParticipants regarded the SSM/PIFU pathway as a way to save time and money for them and the National Health Service (NHS) (14/32; 44%) and as a means of assuming responsibility for their own follow-up (18/32; 56%). Most maintained (very/somewhat) confidence in managing their BC follow-up care (baseline 31/32, 97%; 12 months 29/31, 93%). During the year, 19% (5/26) stopped endocrine therapy altogether because of side effects. Qualitative analysis revealed general satisfaction with SSM/PIFU and described the breast care nurses as reassuring and empathic. However, there was a lingering anxiety about identifying signs and symptoms correctly, particularly for those with screen-detected cancers. There was also uncertainty about who to contact for psychological support. The COVID-19 pandemic discouraged some participants from contacting the helpline as they did not want to overburden the NHS.ConclusionsThe results show that during the first year on the SSM/PIFU pathway, most patients felt confident managing their own care. Clinical teams should benefit from understanding patients’ expectations and experiences and potentially modify the service for men with BC and/or those with screen-detected breast cancers.

Understanding how self-management education and support programmes for type 2 diabetes are expected to change behaviour: A document analysis of two programmes.

Attendance at diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programmes for type 2 diabetes is associated with positive outcomes, but the impact on some outcomes is inconsistent and tends to decline over time. Understanding the active ingredients of effective programmes is essential to optimise their effectiveness. This study aimed to (1) retrospectively identify behaviour change techniques (BCTs), mechanisms of action (MoAs) and intervention functions in two DSMES programmes, the Community-Oriented Diabetes Education and the Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed and (2) examine variation in content between programmes. A multiple case study approach, including a documentary analysis of the programme materials, was conducted. Materials were coded using the BCT Taxonomy v1, the Mode of Delivery Ontology v1 and the Intervention Source Ontology v1. The Behaviour Change Wheel guidance and the Theory and Techniques tool were used to identify intervention functions and MoAs. Programme stakeholders provided feedback on the findings. Thirty-four BCTs were identified across the programmes, with 22 common to both. The identified BCTs were frequently related to 'goals and planning', 'feedback and monitoring' and 'natural consequences'. BCTs were linked with 15 MoAs, predominantly related to reflective motivation ('beliefs about capabilities' and 'beliefs about consequences') and psychological capability ('knowledge'). BCTs served six intervention functions, most frequently 'education', 'enablement' and 'persuasion'. Although both programmes included several BCTs, some BCTs were rarely or never used. Additional BCTs could be considered to potentially enhance effectiveness by addressing a wider range of barriers.

International Comparison of Professional Competency Frameworks for Advanced Practice Nurses

Abstract Background Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) have become established professionals in many healthcare systems. APNs combine nursing with medical expertise, bridging the boundaries of traditional professions in nursing and medicine. This study focuses on the content of professional competency frameworks for APNs in different countries to determine (1) how these frameworks define the competencies of APNs and (2) address the division of tasks between APNs and physicians. Methods An inductive content analysis is conducted of the competency frameworks for APNs in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Results In Belgium, the Netherlands and the US, the framework is based on an existing model, while in Canada and UK, frameworks do not refer to a model. The analysis revealed twelve generic competency domains for APNs: 1. Clinical Care in Practice, 2. Independent Practitioner, 3. Professional Attitude, 4. Scientific Research &amp; Evidence-Based Practice Care, 5. Leadership, 6. Health Promotion and Public Healthcare, 7. Communication and Collaboration, 8. Organisation of Care and Policy, 9. Support of Self-Management and Patient Empowerment, 10. Quality and Safety of Care, 11. Teaching and (continuing) Education, 12. Technology and E-Health. There are some differences in explicitly to which high-risk procedures are described per country. The frameworks provide limited descriptions of task division and delegation from physicians to APNs, except for the frameworks from Belgium and the Netherlands. Conclusions Despite variations in the basis of professional competency frameworks per country and country-specific influences, twelve generic competency domains with similar competencies were identified. It is recommended to stimulate the development of a global standardised competency framework for APNs, including clear descriptions of task division and delegation, to optimise their role in delivering high-quality healthcare services. Key messages • Similar APN competency expectations suggest the need for an international competency framework, including roles and tasks for APNs, to function as a basis for individual country frameworks. • Nursing associations can use this study to learn from other countries and enhance their development of country-specific competency frameworks for advanced practice nurses.

Perspectives and Needs of Malaysian Patients With Diabetes for a Mobile Health App Support on Self-Management of Diabetes: Qualitative Study.

Effective self-management of diabetes is crucial for improving clinical outcomes by maintaining glucose levels and preventing the exacerbation of the condition. Mobile health (mHealth) has demonstrated its significance in enhancing self-management practices. However, only 20% of Malaysians are familiar with mHealth technologies and use them for health management. This study aims to explore the perceived benefits and challenges, needs and preferences, and willingness of patients with diabetes to use mHealth apps for self-management of diabetes. The study involved one-on-one semistructured online interviews with a total of 15 participants, all of whom were aged 18 years or older and had been diagnosed with diabetes for more than 6 months. An interview guide was developed based on the constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Health Information Technology Acceptance Model (HITAM), and the aesthetics factor derived from the Mobile Application Rating Scale. All interviews were recorded in audio format and transcribed verbatim. The interview content was then organized and coded using ATLAS.ti version 8. Thematic analysis was conducted in accordance with the recommended guidelines for analyzing the data. From the interviews with participants, 3 key themes emerged regarding the perceived benefits of using mHealth app support in diabetes self-management. These themes were the ability to track and monitor diabetes control, assistance in making lifestyle modifications, and the facilitation of more informed treatment decision-making for health care professionals. The interviews with participants revealed 4 prominent themes regarding the perceived barriers to using mHealth app support for diabetes self-management. These themes were a lack of awareness about the availability of mHealth support, insufficient support in using mHealth apps, the perception that current mHealth apps do not align with users' specific needs, and limited digital literacy among users. The interviews with participants unveiled 4 key themes related to their needs and preferences concerning mHealth app support for diabetes self-management. These themes were the desire for educational information, user-friendly design features, carbohydrate-counting functionality, and the ability to engage socially with both peers and health care professionals. The majority of participants expressed their willingness to use mHealth apps if they received recommendations and guidance from health care professionals. Patients generally perceive mHealth app support as beneficial for diabetes self-management and are willing to use these apps, particularly if recommended by health care professionals. However, several barriers may hinder the utilization of mHealth apps, including a lack of awareness and recommendations regarding these apps from health care professionals. To ensure the effective development of mHealth app support systems for diabetes self-management, it is crucial to implement user-centered design processes that consider the specific needs and preferences of patients. This approach will help create apps that are tailored to the requirements of individuals managing diabetes.