185822 Patient education in chronic disease management in Singapore

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 2:50 PM

Andy Tan, MD, MPH, MBA , MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Shirin Wadia, MPH , Active Health Management, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Singapore
Erwin Teo , Research and Evaluation, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Singapore
Ratnala Sukanya Naidu , Research and Evaluation, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Singapore
Handy Amin , Active Health Management, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Singapore
Sarojini Thanarajah , Resource Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Singapore
Anbumalar Ramiah, MD , Resource Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Singapore
Purpose: The Chronic Disease Management Program (CDMP) was launched in 2006 to empower patients to take charge of their health for better outcomes, and to lower long-term healthcare costs. We present an overview of the CDMP and the evaluation results of a patient education folder distributed by the Health Promotion Board (HPB). The folder contains information on chronic disease management, self-monitoring and, the use of Medisave for outpatient treatment.

Methodology: We conducted an interviewer-administered survey among General Practitioners (GPs) enrolled in the CDMP, focus group discussions (FGDs) among patients with chronic diseases, and a randomised household survey (Omnibus) in the general population.

Results: 518 eligible GP clinics responded (response rate =72%). 93.7% of GPs found the folder useful. 73.7% of GPs distributed the folder to patients, of which less than half (44.0%) used it for patient education. In the FGD (n=57), patients felt that the distribution of the folder was limited, the information did not cater to varied health literacy levels, and that encouragement to use the record book from their doctor was a strong motivator. The Omnibus survey showed that 189/909 respondents (20%) had at least one chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipid disorders, or stroke) and 19 respondents with these conditions (10%) received the folder from their healthcare provider.

Conclusion: To further enhance the usefulness of the CDMP, the Nurse Health Educator Programme will be launched by HPB to support the GPs in their patient education effort and also to equip patients with the skills to manage their chronic conditions more effectively.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe Singapore's experience in implementing a national Chronic Disease Management Program. 2. Evaluate the reach and utility of a patient education folder for chronic disease management among the general population, patients with chronic diseases, and general physicians.

Keywords: Patient Education, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Education - M.D., M.P.H. Experience - Public health experience in health promotion, health education, and research and evaluation of health promotion programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.