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• Objectives
• Program Detail
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Overview

Self management has been identified as one of the key system enablers to progress the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease and has been described in the strategy document as: ‘Empowering and preparing individuals to manage their health and health care’.

Self management is similarly seen as a priority for almost every call for primary health care reform in Australia.  The Australian National Chronic Disease Strategy identifies self management as one of four key action areas. The Australian Better Health Initiative has recognised ‘encouraging active patient self-management’ as a priority area and has expressed a commitment to provision of targeted training, education and resources to strengthen the capacity of the existing and future primary care workforce to support chronic disease self management. 

Self management has also been highlighted in the literature as an important strategy for managing chronic illness. Research findings however identify that the concept of self management has been perceived as different things by different people and consequently led to a diverse array of practices considered to be representative of self management.

The chronic disease team via representation on relevant peak bodies and in consultation with other key stakeholder groups is exploring existing frameworks and evidence based approaches to support self management in practice. In identifying suitable support mechanisms for Divisions to implement evidenced-based self management approaches in practice, the Chronic Disease team seeks to promote integration of self management principles and ultimately improve health outcomes for all Queenslanders.

Objectives

As articulated in the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005 – 2015 empowering and preparing individuals to manage their health and healthcare can be translated into the following core objectives:

• Develop resource and implement a framework for self management to support consistent approaches and access for all Queenslanders with, or at risk of developing chronic disease.
• Identify or, where required, develop models that support the needs of specific population groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples, people form culturally diverse backgrounds and people form rural and remote areas.
• Identify appropriate models and develop toolkits to support delivery of self management programs including ongoing support for individuals to increase self efficacy and coping strategies.
• Develop and implement awareness-raising and training programs for health professionals and peer-leaders around self management.

When applying these objectives, General Practice Queensland seeks to implement strategies which build the capacity of the primary care setting to support the broad adoption of self-management principles into practice.  These strategies include:

• Promoting the role of the practitioner in chronic disease self management.
• Developing the understanding and awareness of what self management means in a primary care setting.
• Develop and facilitate a statewide stakeholder network for chronic disease self management in Queensland, with a particular focus on primary care.
• Develop linkages and support the integration of chronic disease self management activities with other primary health care initiatives such as CLPI.
• Increase the capacity and skills of general practice (through Divisions) and CHAG to undertake evidence based chronic disease self management.  This will include the provision of suitable tools, workshops and training.
  

Program Detail

To support information sharing and collaboration across the Queensland Divisions network and with other key stakeholders in the implementation of state and national priorities for chronic disease self management, General Practice Queensland has active representation on the following networks:

Queensland Self Management Alliance

QSMA is a coalition of organisations committed to the promotion and support of self management in Queensland.  QSMA’s purpose is to promote the integration and normalisation of self-management philosophy and practices within new and existing services and systems. Established in April 2005, QSMA received funding from Queensland Health in 2006 to become the peak body for self management in Queensland.

QSMA comprises representatives from various peak bodies including: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, key service delivery providers and non government organisations and various self management academic experts.  QSMA has also established links with key national and international self management experts, ensuring that Queensland is well positioned to benefit from and contribute to, the growing evidence base of self management.
The Management Advisory Group (MAG) of QSMA was formally elected in October 2007 and is the executive governing committee for QSMA.  General Practice Queensland has an elected representative member on MAG.

AGPN/SBO Chronic Disease Self-Management Support Network

A recommendation of the National Consultation Australian Better Health Initiative: Encouraging Active Patient Self-Management: Australian Government Contribution was the establishment of an Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) and State Based Organisation (SBO) Chronic Disease Self Management Support Network.

The purpose of the CDSM Network will be to focus on building the capacity of the existing primary health care workforce to promote improved patient self management support within primary care, and particularly in general practice. 

GPQ is currently awaiting further advice on the development of the AGPN/SBO Chronic Disease Self-Management Support Network.  

Achievements