Activating Patients for Sustained Chronic Disease Self-Management: Thinking Beyond Clinical Outcomes. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dye, Cheryl J.; Williams, Joel E.; Evatt, Janet H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of primary care & community health. Volume 7:Number 2(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: community health -- disease management -- lifestyle change -- rural health -- physical activity; Primary health care -- Periodicals; Primary health care -- United States -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Community health services -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.12
• DOI: 10.1177/2150131915626562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1319

Abstract

This article describes the impact of an 8-week community program implemented by trained volunteers on the hypertension self-management of 185 patients who were batch randomized to intervention or wait-list control groups. Compared with control group participants, a higher proportion of treatment group participants moved from the cognitive to behavioral stages of motivational readiness for being physically active ( P < .001), practicing healthy eating habits ( P = .001), handling stress well ( P = .001), and living an overall healthy lifestyle ( P = .003). They also demonstrated a greater average increase in perceived competence for self-management, F (1.134) = 4.957, P = .028, η 2 = .036, and a greater increase in mean hypertension-related knowledge, F (1.160) = 16.571, P < .0005, η 2 = .094. Enduring lifestyle changes necessary for chronic disease self-management require that psychosocial determinants of health behavior are instilled, which is typically beyond standard medical practice. We recommend peer-led, community-based programs as a complement to clinical care and support the increasing health system interest in promoting population health beyond clinical walls.