Many Chinese people suffer from chronic diseases like hypertension and chronic lung disease (CLD), leading to a significant disease burden. Self-management intervention (SMI) can help improve... Show moreMany Chinese people suffer from chronic diseases like hypertension and chronic lung disease (CLD), leading to a significant disease burden. Self-management intervention (SMI) can help improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the disease burden. But most research on SMI has been done in high-income countries, while over 599 million Chinese people suffer from chronic diseases. Implementing effective SMI in high–income countries for Chinese people with chronic diseases is possible. However, such SMI might not work well in China because of differences in economics and culture. To meet this end, this thesis aimed to tailor a proven-effective SMI tackling CLD, developed and tested in the Netherlands, to the Chinese context. The tailoring steps included identifying the Chinese context, selecting the SMI and mode of delivery, identifying factors influencing the SMI implementation, and integrating SMI into the Chinese context. The results found that SMI – developed and tested in the Netherlands – could be tailored in China. The tailored SMI could help Chinese people with CLD improve their health outcomes and reduce the disease burden, consequently can optimize resource use locally. Other researchers could use the research experience in this thesis to tailor other SMIs targeting other chronic diseases in other cultures. Show less
We conclude that eHealth-supported self-management integrated into usual care can help patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Oral Anticoagulation Therapy to manage their... Show moreWe conclude that eHealth-supported self-management integrated into usual care can help patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Oral Anticoagulation Therapy to manage their disease. We assume that blended care with total integration of eHealth and usual care will provide better quality of care in the long term. Professional training of healthcare professionals on the care program including self-management supported by eHealth and personal assistance for the patients to guide them through the platform are essential elements to stimulate the use of eHealth. With appropriate training through e-learning or group training, self-management seems safe and reliable for a selected proportion of motivated patients. Even though eHealth-supported self-management was not superior to usual care regarding health status, the studies produced no negative effects, suggesting that eHealth is a safe option for delivery of self-management support and high-quality disease management. The usage of eHealth platforms is better under conditions of perfect integration into usual care and with personal assistance and the coaching of patients. The usage is highest for patients with platforms that add high practical value in daily life. Show less
