Self-care in people with long term health problems: a community based survey
Author Information
Author(s): Fiona MacKichan, Charlotte Paterson, William E Henley, Nicky Britten
Primary Institution: Institute of Health Services Research, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter
Hypothesis
What self-care practices are patients already using for themselves and what factors may be associated with greater use of self-care?
Conclusion
The study reveals a high level and wide range of self-care practices among patients with long-term health problems, highlighting the importance of GPs as trusted sources of information.
Supporting Evidence
- 90% of the sample reported using at least one self-care practice in the past six months.
- Nearly all respondents reported using self-care, with an average of four self-care practices each.
- GPs were the most frequently used and trusted source of information, but their advice was not linked to greater self-care use.
Takeaway
People with long-term health problems often take care of themselves using various methods, and they trust their doctors for advice.
Methodology
A cross-sectional community-based survey using a postal questionnaire sent to a random sample of 3,060 registered adult patients.
Potential Biases
The sample was predominantly white (95%), which may limit the applicability of findings to more diverse populations.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design provides only a snapshot of self-care practices and has a response rate of 45%, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 57.9 years, with 62.6% female and 95.2% identifying as white.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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