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The impact on a health care system of a program to facilitate self-care
K K Steinweg1, R E Killingsworth, R J Nannini
1Department of Family Medicine, East Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
Background:
High utilization for self-limiting conditions has challenged health care systems to be innovative. The facilitation of self-care has been identified as a viable concept to control demand and encourage efficient use of resources. A Self-Care Intervention Program (SCIP) coupled with a Health Promotion Pharmacy (HPP) was implemented in an Army health care system to determine the impact on the use of self-care.
Methods:
A questionnaire was mailed to 283 SCIP participants at the 6-month interval to assess achievement of program objectives. Use of the HPP was documented during the same interval. The response rate was 67.5% (n = 191).
Results:
A positive response was obtained for all six program
Objectives:
Increased knowledge of personal health issues (84.3%); increased confidence to treat minor illnesses (77%); improved opinion of the health care system (74.9%); increased practice of healthy behaviors (64.9%); and an increased commitment to seek preventive medicine (62.8%). Seventy-two percent of the respondents reported avoiding at least one clinic visit, and 39.8% reported avoiding at least one visit to the emergency room. The calculated return on investment was 11:1.
Conclusion:
A formal self-care program supported by a pharmacy can have a positive effect on participants' health and health care, resulting in cost-effective demand management.