268107 Factors associated with women's chronic disease management: Associations of healthcare frustrations, physician support, and self-care knowledge

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 11:06 AM - 11:18 AM

Matthew Lee Smith, PhD, MPH, CHES , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, The University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Athens, GA
Marcia G. Ory, PhD, MPH , Social & Behavioral Health, Texas A&M HSC School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
SangNam Ahn, PhD, MPSA , Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN
Toni Miles, PhD, MD , Institute of Gerontology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Nancy Whitelaw, PHD , The National Council on the Aging, Washington, DC
     
Background. Many factors interfere with women's ability to manage their chronic conditions and engage in self-care behaviors. While positive physician-patient interactions can promote healthful behaviors, women with lower self-management skills may become frustrated because they require additional physician support to understand recommendations for self-care.

Objectives. This study examined the sociodemographics, health indicators, healthcare-related frustrations, and perceived physician support levels associated with middle-aged and older adult females' self-reported need for help to learn how to take better care of their health.

Methods. Data were analyzed from 431 middle-aged and older adult females with one or more chronic conditions who completed the National Council on Aging/ California HealthCare Foundation Chronic Care Survey. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with women's self-management needs.

Results. Over 35% of participants reported they needed help learning how to take better care of their health in a way that works for them. Women who were non-white (OR=2.38, P=0.036) and resided in rural areas (OR=2.03, P=0.049) were more likely to need help learning how to better manage their health. Those who had more than a high school education (OR=0.55, P=0.044), lower healthcare-related frustrations (OR=0.17, P<0.001), and perceived to have more physician support (OR=0.48, P<0.001) were less likely to need help learning how to better manage their health.

Conclusion: The context and quality of physician-patient interactions can be improved by incorporating tailored health messages to promote better self-care behaviors among middle-aged and older women with chronic diseases.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify three factors associated with women’s disease management abilities (i.e., pertaining to the need for help to learn how to better manage their health). 2. Describe two ways in which physician-patient interactions can be improved to alleviate frustrations and improve perceived physician support. 3. Describe two ways in which physician-patient interactions can be improved to enable women to better manage their chronic diseases outside of healthcare settings.

Keywords: Women's Health, Disease Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been an aging researcher for the past four years. Many of my research efforts specifically examine health issues among female populations. Additionally, many of my program evaluation efforts assess interventions related to chronic disease management and prevention.
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.

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