Measurement of Key Constructs in a Holistic Framework for Assessing Self-Management Effectiveness of Pediatric Asthma

The 2007 U.S. National Institutes of Health EPR-3 guidelines emphasize the importance creating a provider-patient partnership to enable patients/families to monitor and take control of their asthma, so that treatment can be adjusted as needed. However, major shortfalls continue to be reported in provider adherence to EPR-3 guidelines. For providers to be more engaged in asthma management, they need a comprehensive set of resources for measuring self-management effectiveness of asthma, which currently do not exist. In a previously published article in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy, the authors conducted a literature review, to develop a holistic framework for understanding self-management effectiveness of pediatric asthma. The essence of this framework, is that broad socioecological factors can influence self-agency (patient/family activation), to impact self-management effectiveness, in children with asthma. A component of socio-ecological factors of special relevance to providers, would be the quality of provider-patient/family communication on asthma management. Therefore, the framework encompasses three key constructs: (1) Provider-patient/family communication; (2) Patient/family activation; and (3) Self-management effectiveness. This paper conducts an integrative review of the literature, to identify existing, validated measures of the three key constructs, with a view to operationalizing the framework, and discussing its implications for asthma research and practice.

Compliance amongst asthma patients registered for an asthma disease risk-management programme in South Africa

The study attempted to identify the factors that influence compliance amongst 1039 members and their dependants of a particular medical aid scheme in South Africa who were registered for an asthma disease risk-management (DRM) programme. The sample consisted of 200 systematically selected individuals or their dependants. A quantitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was undertaken. Questionnaires for completion were posted to the individuals or their dependants. The Statistica 7.1 computer program was used to analyse the data.Most asthma patients did not comply with the DRM programme because they lacked knowledge of the programme. Asthma patients' compliance with the DRM programme can be enhanced by the sustained, positive attitudes of their health providers and case managers; better promotion of the programme; and by involving the patients to a greater extent in the long-term management of their disease.Asthma patients require education about healthy lifestyles that would empower them to successfully manage their condition, which would prevent or at least reduce asthma attacks and/or hospital admissions.

Teachable moments for health behavior change: a concept analysis

OBJECTIVE

"Teachable moments" have been proposed as events or circumstances which can lead individuals to positive behavior change. However, the essential elements of teachable moments have not been elucidated. Therefore, we undertook a comprehensive review of the literature to uncover common definitions and key elements of this phenomenon.

METHODS

Using databases spanning social science and medical disciplines, all records containing the search term "teachable moment*" were collected. Identified literature was then systematically reviewed and patterns were derived.

RESULTS

Across disciplines, 'teachable moment' has been poorly developed both conceptually and operationally. Usage of the term falls into three categories: (1) "teachable moment" is synonymous with "opportunity" (81%); (2) a context that leads to a higher than expected behavior change is retrospectively labeled a 'teachable moment' (17%); (3) a phenomenon that involves a cueing event that prompts specific cognitive and emotional responses (2%).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the teachable moment is not necessarily unpredictable or simply a convergence of situational factors that prompt behavior change but suggest the possible creation of a teachable moment through clinician-patient interaction.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Clinician-patient interaction may be central to the creation of teachable moments for health behavior change.

Chronic illness self-management: locating the 'self'

AIM

In this paper, we present the findings of a recent research project in which we explored self- management with older people who were diagnosed with asthma.

BACKGROUND

Asthma self-management literature has focused on the need for the patient to 'adhere' to prescribed therapies, in particular the taking of medications, monitoring of respiratory function or recognizing and avoiding triggers.

METHOD

Data were generated during a period of 9 months from three sources; in-depth interviews with 24 older participants, an open-ended questionnaire and two mixed-gender participatory action research groups.

FINDINGS

Based on current literature, our previous research findings which have 'unpacked' what is 'self'-management, and data generated in this project, we propose that three asthma management models are in operation: Medical Model of Self-management, Collaborative Model of Self-management and Self-Agency Model of Self-management. Locating the 'self' in self-management means acknowledging that many people living with a chronic condition are already self-determining and their expertise should be acknowledged as such.

CONCLUSION

Health care professionals can best facilitate people toward self-agency by embracing new understandings of self-management in long-term illness. This process is enhanced when the expertise a person brings to the management of their condition is given the respect it deserves. There needs to be a focus on providing people with the means to grow and learn in a participative relationship that cannot be fully realized with 'off the shelf' self-management solutions.

Improving asthma outcomes in harder-to-reach populations: challenges for clinical and community interventions

The burden of asthma differs from country to country and within populations. The factors that influence this variation include asthma prevalence and severity, aspects of healthcare services (such as accessibility, quality and utilisation) and social demographic factors (such as income inequality, cultural and linguistic diversity and indigenous populations). The identification of individuals and populations that are 'harder to reach', 'special' or at greater risk of poor asthma outcomes therefore depends on how the burden of asthma and its management are measured. Meeting the challenge of educating harder-to-reach populations with asthma is the focus of this article. In clinical settings, communication is the mainstay of engaging and building trust to influence behavioural change in individuals; community-based interventions provide valuable opportunities for targeting harder-to-reach populations. However, they require active community consultation and participation and innovative approaches to service delivery, in addition to being theoretically driven and systematically developed.