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Solutions to the Problems of Chronic Disease Management in Rural Settings
Author(s) -
Prate Dennis A.,
Johnson Sidney A.,
Sharpe Thomas R.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.1985.tb00118.x
Subject(s) - facilitator , medicine , chronic disease , disease , rural area , family medicine , disease management , rural health , health care , focus group , gerontology , nursing , health management system , alternative medicine , psychology , pathology , economic growth , social psychology , business , marketing , economics
Recent changes in disease patterns in the Untied States from acute to chronic disorders and the maldistribution of medical manpower have disproportionately affected rural residents. Programmatic attempts to alter the medical care system in rural areas have traditionally centered on increasing the number of primary providers. In central Mississippi, two innovative alternative models of chronic disease management have been evaluated. The disease focus was high blood pressure and the two management models emphasized: (1) the use of local residents as health facilitators or health counselors, and (2) the use of self‐help groups in family and church settings. Eighteen months of outcome data indicated that the health facilitator model was controlling 80 percent of the hypertensives participating; the family‐based self‐help groups were controlling 90 percent; and, the church‐based self‐help groups were controlling 79.9 percent. These community‐based models of chronic disease management have broad implications for other geographic areas and other chronic disorders.