Table 2. Self-management Support Content and Prerequisites for Coaches

Content areas Prerequisites to provide the content

Information on:

  • The disease and symptoms.
  • Benefits of self-management.
  • Areas needing self-management (diet, physical activity, smoking, environment, medication compliance, etc.).
  • How to self-manage.
  • Medications and side effects.
  • Resources available.
  • Medical information on the disease, symptoms, medications, side effects, outcome, medical terminology, etc.
  • Information on self-management tasks needed and their benefits.
  • Applicable clinical practice guidelines.
  • Information on resources available.
  • Information on the patient's condition, comorbidities, and information needs.
  • Ability and resources to communicate.

Supportive interventions:

  • Assessment of perceptions, motivations, confidence, abilities, needs, and goals related to living well with condition.
  • Building motivation to self-manage (e.g., alter behavior, comply with meds, monitor symptoms, etc.).
  • Increase confidence and self-efficacy for the specific self-management behaviors needed.
  • Collaboratively define problems and barriers to self-management.
  • Collaboratively set self-management goals.
  • Develop problem-solving skills and help with problem-solving.
  • Provide emotional support .
  • Facilitate stress management.
  • Provide followup regarding reassessment, goals, problem-solving, reinforcement, prompts, and reminders.
  • Assessment tools and skills.
  • Skills and ability to work collaboratively with patients (garner trust, listen carefully, solicit and accept patient's own priorities).
  • Psychosocial skills, abilities, and tools to engage patients and enhance motivation, confidence, and self-efficacy.
  • Stress management knowledge and skills.
  • Information and technology to prompt and inform followup.
  • Information on patient's prior goals, problems, needs, knowledge, behavior change successes and failures, meds compliance, and visit compliance.
  • Protocols for synthesizing assessment data into priorities for supportive interventions.
  • Protocols for providing support (for motivating, building confidence, problem solving, setting goals collaboratively, etc.).

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