Drivers and barriers to promoting self-care in individuals living with multimorbidity: a cross-sectional online survey of health and care professionals

ObjectiveInvestigate knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of health and care professionals (H&CPs) in England concerning drivers and barriers for promoting self-care in service-users with multimorbidity. DesignA cross-sectional online survey of the health and care workforce. SettingHealth and social care workforce. ParticipantsEighty-eight health and social care professionals in England. MethodsA cross-sectional online survey administered via Imperial College Qualtrics platform. Questions were asked about perceived drivers and barriers to promoting self-care in individuals with multimorbidity, including mental health. ResultsExtant barriers associated with service-users ability and opportunity to self-care were feelings of loneliness and social isolation (18.9%; n=61), mobility and access issues (14%; n=45). Strategies deployed by H&CPs to support self-care were social prescribing (17.9%; n=59), helping service-users to monitor their symptoms (15.2%; n=50), referring to recognised programmes to support self-management (13.9%; n=46), knowledge and understanding about the benefits of self-care (91.8%; n=67), the purposes of prescribed medicines (83.3%; n=60), and support for self-care (91.7%; n=66) were considered key drivers of successful self-management and to engagement between service-users and service providers. Service providers reported gaps in their knowledge including how to improve practical interactions to sustain health seeking behaviours by service-users (30.6%; n=49), health coaching (21.9%; n=35), improved understanding about effective self-care interventions (21.3%; n=34) and improving self-care in relation to medicines use (20%; n=32). Most respondents (92.2%; n=71) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted the need for self-care, and (42.7%; n=32) agreed that the pandemic had a positive impact on their ability to promote self-care among service-users. ConclusionsSelf-care is important for service-users who live with multimorbidity. H&CPs are in a unique position to influence lifestyle choices and health-seeking self-care behaviours. Raising awareness about the importance of self-care, health literacy, knowledge, understanding and skills among service-users and providers is key to improving supported self-care.