Mrs Claire Wirth, Ms Sarah Pratt, Ms Zoe Maidment, Mrs Holly Farndale, Ms Marcia Smith, Ms Rebekah Laslett, Ms Alex Roe
1SA Health, Elizabeth, Australia
Biography:
Claire trained as a dietitian and, over the years, developed an interest in the holistic aspects of health and the power of self-management. She is passionate about empowering individuals to take an active role in their health decisions. Claire currently works within the Northern Area Local Health Network’s Intermediate Care Service, as part of the CHAMP team. This service supports individuals living with chronic conditions, aligning with Claire’s passion for helping people make informed, personalized decisions based on their own motivations. She is dedicated to guiding others toward achieving their goals and improving their overall quality of life.
Abstract:
The NALHN catchment serves an area with a high chronic disease burden and significant socioeconomic disadvantage. Integrated self-management support has been identified as an effective management strategy for chronic disease and target area for developing the future health workforce.
The Chronic Conditions Hospital Avoidance Management Program (CHAMP) provides consumer-centred care for individuals with chronic conditions. Allied Health Practitioners, use the Flinders Chronic Condition Management Program that goes beyond medication and education and identifies clients’ motivations, strengths, and concerns. CHAMP focuses on the broader need of the individual, particularly the impact of social determinants of health. Motivational interviewing, builds intrinsic motivation and draws out the client’s own solutions and goals, based on what the client wants.
Initial pilot data showed a 56% reduction in bed days for CHAMP participants (n=65), reducing from 500 days prior, to 218 days following intervention. Ongoing data collection using the K10 Psychological Distress scores demonstrated an average increase of 4.5 points with goals scores improving by an average of 1.5 and 2.75 points respectively (2 points being a significant change).
Results suggest that CHAMP is a sustainable and effective model that empowers individuals living with chronic conditions to make behavioural changes that lead to improved psychological and physical wellbeing. Changes in K10 Psychological Distress scores, coupled with saved bed days, indicate improvements in the client’s ability to self-manage their condition while significantly reducing the burden to the acute health setting.