Individuals with chronic disease assessment of care provided by the health team

This study, which is descriptive and cross-sectional in nature, aimed at identifying how individuals with chronic illness perceive health care assessments and chronic care management provided by the health care team. Our research was carried out in Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital General Internal Medicine Outpatient clinic. The sample of study was calculated using power analysis. The participants of the study were 217 patients who with at least one hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol, met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) after receiving permission from Ethics Committee and the institution. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 20) package program. Findings were interpreted using frequency tables and descriptive statistics. Average age of the participants was found 57,84±11,70. Majority of the participants were aged 64 and over, female, and married, had middle income, graduated from primary school, and had hypertension. Mean score for the patients' satisfaction about chronic care was 2.43±0.64. According to the existing disease, satisfaction mean scores, respectively; patients with hypertension 2,45 ± 0,65, patients with diabetic 2,39 ± 0,63, patients with cholesterol 2,43 ± 0,60. Average scores on subscales were; patient activation 2.45±1.14, decision support 2.97±0.95, goal setting 2.34±0.77, problem solving 2.51±0.76, follow-up/coordination 2.14±0.77. Significant relationships were identified between the mean score of satisfaction about chronic illness care and variables such as gender, working or not, occupation, social security, diagnosis year for an accompanying disease, and regular visits to the doctor (p<0.05). In conclusion, when PACIC total and subscale scores were examined, scores show that care of chronic disease is not adequate. In this regard, it is recommended that patients' self-management should be supported, training or health programs for chronic illnesses should be organized, the nurse's education role more active use should be provided, in the direction of care satisfaction and patient expectations care should be planned and more studies assessing care from the patient's perspective should be conducted. Key Words: Care, Chronic Illness, Nursing, PACIC