Patients' perception towards chronic disease self-management and its program: A cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the perceptions towards chronic disease self-management and its program among patients with chronic diseases.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study using pre-validated questionnaire was conducted among patients with chronic diseases at outpatient pharmacy in a hospital in Penang, Malaysia from April to June 2021.

RESULTS: Of 270 patients participated in this study, 87.8% were interested in chronic disease self-management. Nonetheless, they faced common barriers including time constraint (71.1%), no health monitoring devices (44.1%) and poor health knowledge (43.0%). More than half of the patients expressed that having a better knowledge of the disease and its treatment (64.1%), getting supportive guidance from healthcare providers (59.6%) and having monitoring devices (58.1%) were the top three facilitators to self-management. The patients preferred chronic disease self-management programs that (a) discuss the topic of motivation (b) are available both as mobile applications and hands-on training, (c) individual session, (d) range between 1 and 5 sessions with a duration of 1 to 2 h/session, (e) occurring on monthly basis, (f) conducted by doctor or healthcare professionals and (g) fully sponsored by government or at affordable fee.

CONCLUSION: The findings serve as pre-requisite step in future design and development of chronic disease self-management program, targeting the patients' needs and preferences.