Development, Content, and Process Evaluation of a Short Self-management Intervention in Patients with Chronic Diseases Requiring Self-care Behaviours

Many patients with asthma, diabetes, and heart failure do not succeed in integrating the required self-management behaviours into their lives, and fail to attain optimal disease control. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a theory-driven intervention to enhance self-management that would be appreciated and accepted by participants and providers. Based on self-regulation theory and proactive coping, the program emphasised goal-setting and the planning of behaviour. In five 2h group sessions, participants first decided upon their own goal and behaviours they wanted to change. Next, they wrote an action-plan to implement these behavioural intentions. Behavioural rehearsal and self-monitoring took place between the sessions. Participants and nurse providers evaluated the intervention positively. Evaluations were unrelated to patients' health at baseline, or to feelings of self-efficacy regarding self-management. But patients of older age, lower education, or no current employment responded best to the intervention.