Perception of empowerment and practice in chronic disease management among public health nurses of Taiwan

6^th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

August 15-17, 2016 London, UK

Ching-Min Chen

National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Population ageing and the increasing of longevity associating with chronic diseases in old age are crucial issues around the world. While providing community-based primary care services, public health nurses (PHNs) have faced the increased demands in providing comprehensive and continuity of care for community dwelling elderly with chronic conditions. The objective of this study was to analyze PHNsâ�?�? perceptions of empowerment and practice in chronic disease management in Southern Taiwan. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. A purposive sample of PHNs from four public health centers in Southern Taiwan participated in focus group discussion and completed the questionnaire survey. PHNs reported highest in communication followed by disease care and management in practice of chronic disease management. Perception of empowerment in chronic disease management showed PHNs felt as a nature to agree in psychological empowerment and about 50% felt the organizational empowerment. Practice in chronic disease management was correlated with empowerment. Four themes were emerged based on the result of the focus group: â�?�?Gather and Collect Communityâ�?, â�?�?Between Ideal and Realityâ�?, â�?�?Seamless Integration and Well Considered in Every Aspect: The Demands from Individual, Organization to Environmentâ�?, and â�?�?Blueprint for a Better Chronic Disease Managementâ�?. It is recommended that PHNs should keep the original care services and provide service through developing partnerships, strengthened the training, building up medical information networks, apply smart ways or tools, combine with related of resources and promote policies to support PHNs in chronic care management.

Biography :

Ching-Min Chen has received her Doctor of Nursing Science (Health Policy and Health of the Community) in 1995 from Indiana University, USA. She has joined Taipei Medical University as a Lecturer shortly after her return. She was promoted to full Professor in 2007. She has served as Deputy Director of Nursing Services Department of the University Hospital in 2003-2004 and Director of the School of Geriatric Nursing and Care Management in 2007-2011. In 2011, she relocated and took her position as Professor in Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University and Adjunct Professor, both at the Institute of Gerontology and Institute of Allied Health.

Email: chingmin@mail.ncku.edu.tw