The impact on a health care system of a program to facilitate self-care.
BACKGROUND
High utilization for self-limiting conditions has challenged health care systems to be innovative. The facilitation of self-care has been identified as a viable concept to control demand and encourage efficient use of resources. A Self-Care Intervention Program (SCIP) coupled with a Health Promotion Pharmacy (HPP) was implemented in an Army health care system to determine the impact on the use of self-care.


METHODS
A questionnaire was mailed to 283 SCIP participants at the 6-month interval to assess achievement of program objectives. Use of the HPP was documented during the same interval. The response rate was 67.5% (n = 191).


RESULTS
A positive response was obtained for all six program


OBJECTIVE
Increased knowledge of personal health issues (84.3%); increased confidence to treat minor illnesses (77%); improved opinion of the health care system (74.9%); increased practice of healthy behaviors (64.9%); and an increased commitment to seek preventive medicine (62.8%). Seventy-two percent of the respondents reported avoiding at least one clinic visit, and 39.8% reported avoiding at least one visit to the emergency room. The calculated return on investment was 11:1.


CONCLUSIONS
A formal self-care program supported by a pharmacy can have a positive effect on participants' health and health care, resulting in cost-effective demand management.
Steinweg
K K
KK
Department of Family Medicine, East Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
Killingsworth
R E
RE
Nannini
R J
RJ
Spayde
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010594:Pharmacies; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States