Challenges for co-morbid XXXX care and policy in Australia: a qualitative study.

@entity1 @entity712 @entity6 @entity102 @entity164 @entity1030
BACKGROUND: In response to the escalating burden of @entity102 in Australia, recent health policies have emphasised the promotion of @entity1 self-management and better preventive care. A notable omission from these policies is the acknowledgment that @entity1 with @entity102 tend to have co-morbid conditions. Our objectives were: to identify the common challenges co-morbidity poses to @entity1 and carers in their experiences of self-management; to detail the views and perceptions of health professionals about these challenges; and to discuss policy options to improve health care for @entity1 with co-morbid @entity102 . The method included semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 129 purposively sampled @entity1 . @entity1 were @entity1 with @entity164 2 @entity6 , @entity1030 and/or chronic @entity712 as well as carers and health care professionals. Content analysis of the interview data was conducted using NVivo7 software. RESULTS: @entity1 and their carers found co-morbidity influenced their capacity to manage @entity102 in three ways. First, co-morbidity created barriers to @entity1 acting on risk factors; second, it complicated the process of recognising the early symptoms of deterioration of each condition, and third, it complicated their capacity to manage medication. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight challenges that @entity1 with multiple chronic conditions face in relation to preventive care and self-management. Future clinical policy initiatives need to move away from single illness orientation toward strategies that meet the needs of @entity1 with co-morbid conditions and strengthen their capacity to self-manage. These @entity1 will benefit directly from specialised education and services that cater to the needs of @entity1 with clusters of co-morbidities.
