Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Modelling self-management pathways for people with diabetes in primary care

Penn, Marion L.; Kennedy, Anne P.; Vassilev, Ivaylo I.; Chew-Graham, Carolyn A.; Protheroe, Joanne; Rogers, Anne; Monks, Tom

Modelling self-management pathways for people with diabetes in primary care Thumbnail


Authors

Marion L. Penn

Anne P. Kennedy

Ivaylo I. Vassilev

Anne Rogers

Tom Monks



Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-management support to facilitate people with type 2 diabetes to effectively manage their condition is complex to implement. Organisational and system elements operating in relation to providing optimal self-management support in primary care are poorly understood. We have applied operational research techniques to model pathways in primary care to explore and illuminate the processes and points where people struggle to find self-management support. METHODS: Primary care clinicians and support staff in 21 NHS general practices created maps to represent their experience of patients' progress through the system following diagnosis. These were collated into a combined pathway. Following consideration of how patients reduce dependency on the system to become enhanced self-managers, a model was created to show the influences on patients' pathways to self-management. RESULTS: Following establishment of diagnosis and treatment, appointment frequency decreases and patient self-management is expected to increase. However, capacity to consistently assess self-management capabilities; provide self-management support; or enhance patient-led self-care activities is missing from the pathways. Appointment frequencies are orientated to bio-medical monitoring rather than increasing the ability to mobilise resources or undertake self-management activities. CONCLUSIONS: The model provides a clear visual picture of the complexities implicated in achieving optimal self-management support. Self-management is quickly hidden from view in a system orientated to treatment delivery rather than to enhancing patient self-management. The model created highlights the limited self-management support currently provided and illuminates points where service change might impact on providing support for self-management. Ensuring professionals are aware of locally available support and people's existing network support has potential to provide appropriate and timely direction to community facilities and the mobilisation of resources.

Acceptance Date Aug 17, 2015
Publication Date Sep 2, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal BMC Family Practice
Publisher Springer Verlag
Pages 112 - ?
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-015-0325-7
Keywords diabetes, management,
Publisher URL http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/16/112

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations