Self-Management Analysis in Chronic Conditions (SMACC) checklist: an international consensus-based tool to develop,...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Chronic Disease Management
• Patient Self-Management

Background:

• Self-management support programs are crucial for individuals with chronic conditions.
• Existing frameworks require tools for consistent development, comparison, and evaluation.
• The Self-Management Analysis in Chronic Conditions (SMACC) checklist was developed based on a concept analysis of self-management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the content of the SMACC checklist using an international Delphi study.
• To refine and deliver a final version of the SMACC checklist.
• To ensure the checklist effectively supports the development and evaluation of self-management support programs.

Main Methods:

• An international two-round Delphi study was conducted from October 2022 to January 2023.
• Professionals with expertise in self-management support and chronic conditions were recruited via online purposive snowball sampling.
• Participants rated checklist items on clarity, relevance, and alignment with program goals, using a 75% consensus threshold.

Main Results:

• Fifty-four professionals participated in round 1, and 48 in round 2, primarily from Western Europe.
• Consensus was reached for most items after round 1; remaining items achieved consensus or were retained based on feedback in round 2.
• The SMACC checklist demonstrated high content validity and comprehensiveness.

Conclusions:

• The SMACC checklist is a valid and comprehensive tool for developing, evaluating, and comparing self-management support programs.
• It is recognized as a valuable supplement to existing frameworks and feasible for research and clinical settings.
• Further validation with patient and peer expert input is recommended.