Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Martyn Jones, PhD¹, Steve MacGillivray, MSc², Ali Reza Zohoor, PhD³, Thilo Kroll, PhD¹, Deborah Baldie, MSc¹, and Sally Wyke, PhD⁴. (1) School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Dundee, 11 Airlie Place, Dundee, DD1 4HJ, United Kingdom, +44 (0) 1382 388656, m.c.jones@dundee.ac.uk, (2) Tayside Institute for Health Studies, University of Abertay, Dudhope Castle, Dundee, DD3 6HF, United Kingdom, (3) Social Dimensions of Health Institute, University of Dundee, 11 Airlie Place, Dundee, DD1 4HJ, United Kingdom, (4) Department of Nursing, University of Stirling, R.G. Bomont Building, Stirling FK9 4LA, Dundee, United Kingdom

Background In the United Kingdom self-care has been highlighted by the National Health Service as a key component in supporting people with chronic conditions. However, terms such as self-care and self-management are often not clearly defined in the literature.

Aims To review and thematically analyze the self-care literature with regard to the scope and nature of self care definitions related to chronic conditions.

Methods We conducted a comprehensive scoping review limited to English language of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases (years 1995 – 2005) using systematic search strings. Abstracts were independently scrutinized by three researchers using standardised selection, extraction and quality appraisal criteria. Multiple publication types (review; primary research), study designs, medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Stroke were included. Two analysts used constant comparative coding for the thematic analysis.

Results 921 abstracts met initial inclusion criteria; 198 articles were retrieved in full. The literature search revealed multiple self care definitions with different degrees of complexity. Self-care has been characterized as both, a process and outcome. Definitions can be differentiated according to the actors involved in self-care, the impetus for self-care, the scope of self-care, the effects of self-care, and the interventions that have been developed to enhance it. The literature distinguishes between self-care, self-management and self-management support along the continuum of care. Competing definitions of self-care vary in the level of partnership between the patient and healthcare provider.

Conclusions. Greater consistency in definitions is needed to determine the evidence for effectiveness of self-care enhancing intervention programs.

Learning Objectives:

• To articulate and critically appraise the scope and nature of self-care definitions
• To identify inconsistencies in the practical application of self-care definitions
• To determine changes in the application of self-care applications over time

Keywords: Self-Management, Practice-Based Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation