Self-management support in primary care is associated with improvement in patient activation.

Objectives: To examine: 1) whether patient characteristics predict perceived self-management support (usefulness of information and collaborative care planning) by primary care providers after six months, and 2) the association between perceived self-management support and patient activation at 6 months METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis among 120 primary care patients aged 40 and over with a chronic physical condition and comorbid depressive symptoms who participated in a randomized controlled trial of a coaching intervention for depression self-management. Activation was measured at baseline (T0) and 6 months (T1). Self-management support was captured at T1 for physical and mood problems.

Results: The sample of analysis was 120 patients who completed all relevant measures. At T1, the perceived usefulness of information for mood self-management was independently associated with activation. More severe depressive symptoms at T0 predicted lower perceived usefulness of chronic condition self-management information at T1. Lower T0 mental health-related quality of life predicted lower perceived usefulness of mood self-management information at T1.

Conclusions: Perceived informational support for mood self-management may contribute to increased activation. Patients with more severe mental health symptoms or impairment perceive that they receive less useful self-management information from their care team.

Practice Implications: Care teams should determine whether patients with mood problems need greater self-management support.