Challenges and Benefits of Implementing a Chronic Disease Self-management Program in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Setting

Abstract

The experience of Aboriginal health workers and general medical practitioners at the Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney in using patient-centred health measures as a part of chronic disease self-management program is discussed. Challenges encountered were lack of confidence in using these tools, adaptation of the tools without full understanding of their background and adequate testing, and lack of take-up of the care planning component by GPs. Benefits included improved communication between Aboriginal health workers, GPs and patients. The major benefit noted was that Aboriginal health workers felt the tools helped them to understand the barriers their most challenging patients faced to changing their health behaviour. This was motivating and encouraging for Aboriginal health workers, who often provide extensive support-both emotional and practical-to patients with high burdens of chronic disease and self-management difficulties.