Resources for Health: A Social-Ecological Intervention for Supporting Self-management of Chronic Conditions

• Published in: Journal of health psychology Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 693 - 705
• Main Authors: Riley, Kimberly M., Glasgow, Russell E., Eakin, Elizabeth G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, Thousand Oaks and New Delhi SAGE Publications 01.12.2001; Sage
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chronically; General populations; Interventions; Medical sciences; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Selfmanagement; Sick people; Social ecology perspectives; United States; North America; America; low income; chronic illness; self-management; social environment; physical activity; Human; Sanitary program; Chronic; Socioeconomic status; Disease; Health service; Resource management; Public health
• ISSN: 1359-1053; 1461-7277
• DOI: 10.1177/135910530100600607

There is a pressing need for practical interventions to support self-management of chronic illness that can be integrated with primary care, and that take into account the patient's social environment. This pilot study was conducted with low-income clients of a community health center and focused on enhancing use of social-environmental resources supportive of self-management. Twenty-eight patients having at least one chronic illness, randomized to immediate versus delayed treatment conditions, met once with a health educator to develop a self-management plan, and received one follow-up phone call and two newsletters. Significant improvements in use of community resources, minutes of physical activity, and medication adherence were obtained compared to control. Integrating brief self-management counseling with social environmental support appeared effective, although much more can be done to better link counseling to primary care practice.