Staff perceptions of implementing health coaching as a tool for self management in chronic disease: A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: Self management in chronic disease is the cornerstone of the Australian National Primary Health Care Strategy, with funding widely available to health services to facilitate staff training in self management strategies for clients. Changing care delivery models in management of chronic disease post training has proven difficult for staff.

Method: Semi structured interviews were conducted with consenting staff who had been trained in client self management strategies, to explore barriers and enablers to implementing their training into practice in the primary care setting.

Results: Staff recognise the value of client self management in chronic disease and perceive it as wholly relevant to their role, but identify many barriers to implementing it into practice. Confidence or self efficacy of staff in implementing the training into practice is repeatedly cited as a barrier.

Discussion: Health care organisations should review their processes and infra structure to allow self management strategies to be easily incorporated into routine work practices and models of care delivery. Identifying and supporting staff who report low self efficacy or confidence is essential to facilitating self management strategies in chronic disease.