Programs aiming to promote self-management for patients with chronic conditions seem like useful tools in controlling the complex health status of such patients. The article appears to reference encouraging healthy behaviors, specifically. However, a major concern for such patients seems to be management of multiple prescriptions. Certain patients may be taking as many as 20 different types of drugs at the same time if they suffer from enough co-morbidities. Understanding the potential interactions and side-effects of such a diverse cocktail seems like it could be nearly impossible for even the most informed pharmacist. This example highlights the point that adequate health care for the chronic disease population is expensive out of necessity. Programs that encourage self-management are useful, but it seems that the impacts will be limited if the chronic conditions have already taken hold. As ever, the best approach appears to be to prevent these conditions before they occur. Once they take hold, avoiding expenses may equate to ineffective care in many cases.
I wonder though, people with multiple chronic conditions taking a pharma-cocktail, could they not be helped by encouraging healthy behaviors AND could they possibly be weaned off of their drugs and eventually lead drug-free lives? This utopian ideal may require a lot of time and effort on the part of the patient but it may be possible that the message of behavior change could be useful for this population as well.
Programs aiming to promote self-management for patients with chronic conditions seem like useful tools in controlling the complex health status of such patients. The article appears to reference encouraging healthy behaviors, specifically. However, a major concern for such patients seems to be management of multiple prescriptions. Certain patients may be taking as many as 20 different types of drugs at the same time if they suffer from enough co-morbidities. Understanding the potential interactions and side-effects of such a diverse cocktail seems like it could be nearly impossible for even the most informed pharmacist. This example highlights the point that adequate health care for the chronic disease population is expensive out of necessity. Programs that encourage self-management are useful, but it seems that the impacts will be limited if the chronic conditions have already taken hold. As ever, the best approach appears to be to prevent these conditions before they occur. Once they take hold, avoiding expenses may equate to ineffective care in many cases.
ReplyDeleteI wonder though, people with multiple chronic conditions taking a pharma-cocktail, could they not be helped by encouraging healthy behaviors AND could they possibly be weaned off of their drugs and eventually lead drug-free lives? This utopian ideal may require a lot of time and effort on the part of the patient but it may be possible that the message of behavior change could be useful for this population as well.
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