Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Support
for people with long-term
conditions
November 2014
Definition of self-management
Self-management refers to any way in which a person with an LTC manages their condition by
themselves. Learning and practising self-management is an ongoing process; it is not
accomplished in a singular step. Self-management is a continuum of learning experiences and
opportunities, and involves a person with an LTC and their family/whnau working in
collaboration with carers and health professionals. People with LTCs who are self-managing:
know their condition and its various treatment options
set goals and decide a care plan to achieve those goals, and review that care plan regularly
engage in activities that protect and promote their health
monitor and manage the symptoms and signs of their condition appropriately
manage their condition to reduce the impact on their physical functioning, emotions and
interpersonal relationships (adapted from Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research
Unit 2006).
Self-management Support
for people with long-term conditions
with LTCs to take a leading role in their care planning, (as they are able to) and support them
to work in partnership with their health care professionals to set goals and action plans
cultural relevance programmes should be culturally sensitive and appropriate for diverse
ethnic groups
systematic follow up primary care providers should undertake clinical assessment and
follow-up care
evaluation providers should undertake both qualitative and formal quantitative evaluation
of the programme.
pp 911).
Health literacy
Health literacy, from the patient perspective, is the cornerstone in enabling people to make
informed choices and take care of their own health. A person with health literacy has the ability
to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services, and can therefore
make appropriate health decisions (Ministry of Health 2010).
People with LTCs and individual health professionals on their own cannot address health
literacy. Health care providers such as district health boards and primary health organisations
play a critical role in supporting health professionals and people with LTC and their
families/whnau to develop health literacy.
Health literacy includes the ability to:
understand and interpret health information provided in written, spoken and digital form
understand instructions written on prescribed medicine containers and consent forms
understand a health professionals verbal advice and explanations
navigate complex health systems
communicate with health professionals, including by describing symptoms accurately and
Health professionals have a pivotal role in improving health literacy. Health professionals must
tailor their style of communication to individual people with LTCs (and their family/whnau).
Cultural competence and efforts to understand peoples health beliefs and preferences will
improve the quality of health interactions, and consequently health literacy.
Health professionals should recognise and address the potential barriers to health behaviour
change, which will be different for each individual.
available
advocating for the creation of self-management support groups, where they are currently not
available
ensuring that self-management is culturally appropriate
following up with people after their participation in self-management education
References
Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee. 2013. Clinical
Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. Canadian
Journal of Diabetes 37(suppl 1): S1S212.
Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit. 2006. The Flinders Program. URL:
www.flinders.edu.au/medicine/sites/fhbhru/self-management.cfm (accessed 14 September
2014).
Ministry of Health. 2010. Krero Mrama: Health Literacy and Mori. Wellington: Ministry of
Health.
Singh D. 2005 Transforming Chronic Care: Evidence for improving care for people with longterm conditions. Birmingham: Health Services Management Centre, The University of
Birmingham.
Smith LT, Reid P. 2000. Mori Research Development: Kaupapa Mori Principles and
Practices: A literature review. Wellington: Te Puni Kkiri.
Tsai A, Morton S, Mangione C, et al. 2005. A meta-analysis of interventions to improve care for
chronic illnesses. American Journal of Managed Care 11(8): 47888.
Zwar N, Harris M, Griffiths R, et al. 2006. A systematic review of chronic disease management.
Sydney: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, School of Public Health and
Community Medicine, University of New South Wales.
the importance of regular physical exercise and how to adjust insulin and carbohydrate
accordingly
cardiovascular disease, and the need for regular monitoring and lifestyle advice to
manage this risk
renal disease, and the need for regular monitoring to manage this risk
sexual dysfunction
blood pressure
microalbuminuria.
Health providers should prioritise self-management support for the following groups:
people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
people with diabetes failing to achieve clinical targets despite 612 months of trying
people with diabetes with persisting clinical issues (eg, hypoglycaemia or weight gain)
Dietary, exercise and lifestyle information can be suitable for inclusion in a programme created
for people with prediabetes; however, diabetes-specific self-management support content is not
appropriate for them.
Published in November 2014 by the Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington 6145.
ISBN 978-0-478-42897-1 (online)
HP 6017