Self-management support in primary care is associated with improvement in patient activation

To examine: 1) whether patient characteristics predict perceived self-management support (usefulness of information and collaborative care planning) by primary care providers after six months, and 2) the association between perceived self-management support and patient activation at 6 months METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis among 120 primary care patients aged 40 and over with a chronic physical condition and comorbid depressive symptoms who participated in a randomized controlled trial of a coaching intervention for depression self-management. Activation was measured at baseline (T0) and 6 months (T1). Self-management support was captured at T1 for physical and mood problems.

The sample of analysis was 120 patients who completed all relevant measures. At T1, the perceived usefulness of information for mood self-management was independently associated with activation. More severe depressive symptoms at T0 predicted lower perceived usefulness of chronic condition self-management information at T1. Lower T0 mental health-related quality of life predicted lower perceived usefulness of mood self-management information at T1.

Perceived informational support for mood self-management may contribute to increased activation. Patients with more severe mental health symptoms or impairment perceive that they receive less useful self-management information from their care team.

Care teams should determine whether patients with mood problems need greater self-management support.