gms | German Medical Science

14. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelanwendungsforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie

Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie

15.11. - 16.11.2007, Frankfurt am Main

Article

Send article

Challenges in (self-)managing complex medication regimes in chronic illness

Meeting Abstract

Search Medline for

  • corresponding author G. Müller-Mundt - University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Public Health
  • D. Schaeffer - University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Public Health
  • J. Haslbeck - University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Public Health
  • G. Geuter - University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Public Health

Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelanwendungsforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie e.V. (GAA). 14. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelanwendungsforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie. Frankfurt am Main, 15.-16.11.2007. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2007. Doc07gaa16

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/gaa2007/07gaa16.shtml

Published: November 12, 2007

© 2007 Müller-Mundt et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Context: Chronically ill patients often have to manage complex medication regimes to control their disease and obtain quality of life. Therefore self-management of medication regimes is an essential component when coping with chronic illness. Although socio-epidemilogical trends highlight the importance of self-management support, systematic patient education and counselling is still lacking as integral part of routine health care, with few expection like rehabilitation and disease management programmes.

Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to explore the challenges inherent in living with chronic illness and longterm pharmacotherapy, and to assess the potential of nursing to provide self-management education tailored to needs of chronically ill patients in home care.

Material and method: A multi-perspective qualitative research design was adapted, covering semistructured interviews with 26 health professionals (general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses) and in-depth interviews with 27 chronically ill. Data collection and analysis were guided by empirical strategies of the Grounded Theory approach.

Results: The results of the study confirm that the day to day management of medication regimens is a complex task and lifelong challenge for people with chronic illness. Symptom perception and communication, health and medication beliefs, daily routine, and social support seem to be important factors influencing the medication management. The data also elucidates, that in contrast to nurses, other health care professionals get little knowledge about everyday problems experienced by patients.

Conclusions: Promoting patients ability to manage their medication regime is an essential of care in chronic illness. Nurses should take an active part to provide self-management education tailored to the patients. Like other health professionals nurses have to be prepared in patient education and counselling adequately to provide effective self-management education and support.

The project is part of the research network “Patients’ perspectives in chronic illness – new concepts of health care”, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (financial support number: 01GT0315), http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/gesundhw/pflegenrw/.