Institutional logic in self-management support: coexistence and diversity.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Sociology of Health
• Organizational Studies

Background:

• European health reforms emphasize cross-sectoral collaboration for chronic condition self-management.
• International literature highlights challenges in inter-organizational collaboration due to conflicting logics.
• Norwegian health policy promotes inter-sectoral partnerships to enhance self-management support networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore diverse understandings of self-management support.
• To map organizational logics in private for-profit, volunteer, and public sectors in Norway.
• To identify how these logics influence potential self-management support networks for individuals with chronic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing 50 semi-structured interviews.
• Conducted between December 2012 and April 2013 across Norway.
• Analysis based on the theoretical framework of institutional logic to assess organizational understandings.

Main Results:

• Identified distinct institutional logics across organizational types.
• Private for-profit organizations focused on appearance and mindset; non-profits emphasized fellowship and moral responsibility.
• Public organizations highlighted individual illness management; merging individualism and fellowship creates diverse logics.

Conclusions:

• Diverse organizational logics can attract different user groups.
• Varied logics may impede inter-sectoral collaboration, potentially at the user's expense.
• Policymakers must consider these complexities to tailor support for diverse user needs and address the trend towards individual disease responsibility.