Nurses perspectives on long-term condition self-management: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Self-Management Support
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Nurses play a crucial role in supporting individuals with long-term condition self-management.
• Limited research exists on nurses' beliefs regarding their role and its impact on patient self-management practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' attitudes, views, and beliefs about their role in facilitating long-term condition self-management.
• To understand how these beliefs influence nursing practice in self-management support.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional qualitative study design was employed.
• Purposive sampling included 14 nurses from primary and secondary care settings in New Zealand.
• Data were collected through one focus group and two interviews, analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Nurses recognized their pivotal role in promoting self-management and ensuring patient follow-up.
• A strong sense of professional accountability was evident, influencing their approach to patient care.
• Nurses acknowledged varying levels of patient engagement in self-management and the need to balance accountability with partnership.

Conclusions:

• Nurses understand the importance of promoting self-management while feeling professionally accountable for quality care.
• Finding a balance between professional accountability and supporting patient autonomy is crucial for effective self-management.
• Recognizing patient boundaries and capabilities is vital to avoid blurring professional lines and to empower patient choice.