Canada
Released January 27, 2010
The second Canadian Health Care Matters bulletin showed that many Canadians with chronic health conditions don’t regularly receive some of the expected types of support that could help them better manage their own care.
Helping Patients Help Themselves: Are Canadians with chronic conditions getting the support they need to manage their health? - was based on the 2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care, which measured the quality of health care as reported by Canadian patients, including those living with at least one chronic condition.
Canadians with chronic conditions
Based on the 2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care, which measured the quality of health care as reported by Canadian patients, including those living with at least one chronic condition.
Self-management is recognized as a crucial aspect of primary health care, and has been shown to reduce emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Patients – particularly those with chronic conditions – need support to develop the knowledge and skills to manage their health care and become partners in their own health.
Overall, we found that self-management support is too often non-existent. According to the bulletin:
• About half to two thirds of Canadians with a chronic condition were asked to talk about their goals in caring for their chronic disease with their health care provider,
• About one-quarter were referred to a specified support group to help them cope or encouraged to attend a community program such as an exercise class,
• Only about one-quarter to one-third received a written list of things they could do to improve their health.
www.healthcouncilcanada.ca
Dr. Jeanne Besner, Chair, Health Council of Canada
