title: Enhancing patient engagement in chronic disease self-management support initiatives in Australia: the need for an integrated approach.
abstract: Although emphasis on the prevention of chronic disease is important, governments in Australia need to balance this with continued assistance to the 77% of Australians reported to have at least one long-term medical condition. Self-management support is provided by health care and community services to enhance patients' ability to care for their chronic conditions in a cooperative framework. In Australia, there is a range of self-management support initiatives that have targeted patients (most notably, chronic disease self-management education programs) and health professionals (financial incentives, education and training). To date, there has been little coordination or integration of these self-management initiatives to enhance the patient-health professional clinical encounter. If self-management support is to work, there is a need to better understand the infrastructure, systems and training that are required to engage the key stakeholders - patients, carers, health professionals, and health care organisations. A coordinated approach is required in implementing these elements within existing and new health service models to enhance uptake and sustainability.
authors.affiliation: AFV Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Osborne
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods