Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Nursing Reports Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Self-Management of Chronic Disease

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Nursing Reports (ISSN 2039-4403).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 10388

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Interests: health behavior; self-management and self-care; chronic disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nursing Reports intends to publish a Special Issue on the topic of “Self-Management of Chronic Disease” in 2024. You are invited to submit a proposal for a manuscript for this Special Issue. Chronic disease accounts for 74% of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. There are at least 20 recognized chronic diseases, and many tend to occur in clusters, accounting for the high incidence of multiple chronic conditions in individuals. Health behaviors are the leading contributors to these highly prevalent conditions. There is evidence for the improvement in these conditions through self-management practices. This Special Issue welcomes manuscripts which address the theories of self-management, the effective components in self-management, the self-management of multiple chronic conditions, patient adherence to self-management practices, the training of providers in the delivery of self-management education for patients, self-management effectiveness with co-occurring mental health conditions and across the age span, and related topics.

Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nursing Reports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

self-management
chronic disorders
multimorbidity
health behavior change
self-regulation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Health Information Literacy and Health Outcomes Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

by Kailu Wu, Xiaoyan Qi, Aihua Li, Huan Dong, Xiaojing Wang and Meihua Ji

Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15030090 - 5 Mar 2025

Viewed by 548

Abstract

Objectives: Based on social cognitive theory, this study aims to explore the associated factors of and whether and how health information literacy was correlated to health behavior and glycemic control among individuals with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Following convenient sampling, this cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted among 225 patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome from an outpatient clinic in a suburban area of Beijing, China. Hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analysis were performed to explore the effect of health information literacy on self-management practice and hemoglobin A1c in this sample. The STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies were followed. Results: The findings showed incompetent health information literacy, inadequate self-management behavior, and suboptimal glycemic control in a sample of patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Based on social cognitive theory, the results of regression analysis indicated that self-management attitude, health problem-solving, and chronic illness resources were correlated with self-management practice, and health problem-solving and health information evaluation were correlated with hemoglobin A1c. Mediation analysis revealed that self-management attitude, health problem-solving, and chronic disease resources fully mediated the effect of health information literacy on self-management practice. There was an indirect effect of health information literacy on hemoglobin A1c through health problem-solving. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that health information literacy has significant indirect and direct effects on self-management behavior and glycemic control through self-management attitude, health problem-solving, and chronic disease resources in a sample of patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Management of Chronic Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Associated with Adherence to Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Among Patients Attending a Nurse-Led Community Clinic in Australia: A Qualitative Study

by Fouziah Almouqati, Judith Daire, Catherine Catanach, Jean-Louis deSousa, Sam Quill and Mohamed Estai

Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15010023 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 892

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Despite the availability of screening services, the rate of diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening continues to be suboptimal in Australia, necessitating improvement. However, improving DR screening rates requires a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing adherence to the screening recommendations. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence adherence to DR screening among people with diabetes attending a community screening clinic in Australia. Methods: This qualitative study included purposively patients with diabetes recruited from a nurse-led community screening clinic in Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore barriers and enablers impacting patient adherence to DR screening recommendations. The interview data were analyzed thematically using NVivo based on the socio-ecological model, with salience identified by the frequency of the theme. Results: A total of 22 participants completed the interview, including 10 females with a mean age of 60 ± 16.2 years. The interviews identified several factors that improved adherence to DR screening guidelines, including (a) knowledge of the connection between DR and diabetes and the importance of the screening, (b) the care provider’s recommendations, and (c) pre-booked appointments and automatic invitations. Beyond these factors, clinic staff interactions, family support, fear of vision loss, flexible clinic hours, and transportation accessibility also facilitate DR screening adherence. Conclusions: The present study identified key multi-level factors influencing adherence to DR screening. While these findings from a single clinic provide valuable insights to inform screening strategies, larger multi-center studies are needed to validate their broader applicability across diverse healthcare settings and populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Management of Chronic Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experience with a Self-Management Education Program for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study

by Marília Costa Flora, Luísa Barros and Maria Isabel Dias da Costa Malheiro

Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15010022 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 891

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes face complex challenges associated with the disease, underscoring the importance of developing self-management skills. This study examined participants’ perspectives on a type 1 diabetes self-management education program. Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted with 32 adolescents with type 1 diabetes who participated in the program and six expert patients. Both thematic analysis and content analysis were conducted using NVIVO software, version 1.6.1. Results: Two dimensions emerged: expert patient roles and program evaluation. Expert patient roles were viewed positively, with an emphasis on responsibility, sharing experiences, and being a role model. Program evaluation emphasized peer-to-peer sharing and educational sessions, with increased knowledge of the disease and management strategies. Expert patients also benefited from the program by developing a sense of responsibility, serving as role models for adolescents, and improving their disease self-management. Conclusions: The adolescents emphasized that the program was a learning tool and the expert patient’s view of their role emerges, highlighting modelling as a facilitator of learning and of the responsibility and commitment of the mentors. This study reinforces the benefits of peer-to-peer interaction in a camp setting, including rich experiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Management of Chronic Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increasing Self-Efficacy for the Management of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Through an Advanced Practice Education Program for Primary Care Professionals

by Bushra Yunis, Paloma Echevarría-Pérez, Juan Jose Hernandez Morante and Isabel Morales-Moreno

Nurs. Rep. 2024, 14(4), 3830-3846; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14040280 - 5 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1579

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have shown that primary care (PC) professionals have a low knowledge about the management of patients with type 2 diabetes, despite being one of the most common chronic diseases. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of an educational program for health professionals on the metabolic control of their patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This work follows a quasi-experimental longitudinal design following a double perspective. First, an educational intervention was conducted on primary care health professionals. Previous diabetes knowledge was evaluated on 157 PC health professionals. Those with lower knowledge scores (<3.5 out of 7) were allocated to the intervention group. An 8-week advanced education program was conducted on 77 PC health professionals. Self-efficacy and quality of care were evaluated. Second, a prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate changes in metabolic parameters in their patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 4099 patients with type 2 diabetes attending PC services were divided depending on the formation of health professionals. Biochemical and other clinical parameters were determined at baseline and after 12 months; the study was allocated in the Primary Health Centers of Meuhedet North District (Israel), from January 2022 to June 2023. Changes from the baseline were compared using ANOVA. Additionally, a mixed-effect model was conducted to capture variability within primary care staff and between groups of patients. Results: The education program significantly improved health staff knowledge (p < 0.001) and all dimensions of self-efficacy (p < 0.001 in all cases). These improvements were mirrored in patients’ outcomes, since those managed by health professionals attending the advanced practice education showed, after 6 months, better glucose (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p < 0.001), and eGFR (p = 0.006) levels. Conclusions: The advanced practice education program oriented to PC professionals was able to significantly improve their self-efficacy and perceived quality of care, which induced a significant effect on metabolic markers of patients with type 2 diabetes. Overall, the data reinforce the usefulness of advanced education programs, especially in chronic complex diseases like type 2 diabetes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Management of Chronic Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 700 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chronic Illness Perceptions and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Behaviors in Black and Latinx Sexual Minority Men with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

by S. Raquel Ramos, Baram Kang, Sangchoon Jeon, Marilyn Fraser, Trace Kershaw and Mohamed Boutjdir

Nurs. Rep. 2024, 14(3), 1922-1936; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14030143 - 8 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1493

Abstract

Ethnic and racial sexual minority men with HIV have a disproportionately higher risk of HIV-related cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is a lack of tailored and culturally salient behavioral interventions to address HIV-related chronic illness in ethnic and racial sexual minority men, and literature on their understanding and awareness of modifiable behavioral risks is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess illness perceptions about HIV and HTN, and describe physical activity, tobacco, and e-cigarette use in Black and Latinx sexual minority men living with HIV. We used the validated Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) to assess perceptions about two interrelated chronic diseases, HIV and CVD. To assess CVD behavioral risk, we assessed physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Tobacco and e-cigarette use were assessed using items from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Sleep difficulties were the most prevalent symptom attributed to HIV, and were statistically associated with fatigue, upset stomach, and loss of strength. Anxiety was reported to be caused by HIV (57%) and HTN (39%). Half of the participants engaged in vigorous activity for 128 min (SD = 135) daily, and 63% engaged in moderate activity for 94 min (SD = 88) daily. Over a third reported current tobacco use and 20% reported current e-cigarette use. This study provides formative data to better understand how Black and Latinx sexual minority men with HIV perceive intersecting chronic illnesses and their engagement in modifiable CVD risk behaviors. Sleep, mental health disparities, and financial hardships were commonly reported. More research is needed to address intersecting chronic illnesses and mental health conditions that are influenced by social positioning over the life course, and impact CVD risk factors. This study was not registered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Management of Chronic Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 1109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Defining Self-Management for Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients: A Mixed Method Study

by Katie Brunner, Lydia Weisschuh, Stefan Jobst, Christiane Kugler and Anne Rebafka

Nurs. Rep. 2024, 14(2), 961-987; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14020073 - 17 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2037

Abstract

Patients with Solid Organ Transplantations (SOTx) face long-term lifestyle adaptations, psychological and social adjustments, and complex self-care regimes to maintain health post-transplant. Self-management (SM) skills represent important aspects of nursing communication with SOTx patients; however, there is potential for SM to be defined narrowly in terms of medication adherence. The study presented here collated the existing definitions in a mixed method review in order to identify SM attributes for this group (including those unique to this population). Secondary analysis of a dataset and bibliographic analysis and an expert panel were used to develop a comprehensive working definition of SOTx patients. The analysis comprised critical interpretation of the evolving definition content, concepts, and contexts of application in current usages and over time. We identified eight definitions and 63 cited definition sources from bibliographic analysis. Findings identified limitations of the existing definitions. Population-specific attributes included optimisation of transplant outcomes, active engagement in healthy behaviours, control, structure, and discipline characteristics, and moderating factors of patient motivation, self-efficacy, and cognitive function. A critical appraisal of definitions indicated inadequately defined aspects such as setting, temporal dimension, concept interaction, interventions, and measurable outcomes. The bibliographic analysis highlighted the influence of broader chronic illness constructions of SM, underpinning the generalisable SM attributes in current definitions. Further research may advance the development of a definition in exploring the relevance of SOTx-specific attributes of the definition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Management of Chronic Disease)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Rising Challenge of Poor Health Literacy of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Preliminary Data Identify Important Unmet Needs in an Italian Cohort

by Khadija El Aoufy, Maria Ramona Melis, Paolo Iovino, Stefano Bambi, Chiara Lorini, Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, Ilaria Galetti, Carla Garbagnati, Paola Canziani, Silvia Tonolo, Marco Mitola, Serena Guiducci, Daniel E. Furst, Marco Matucci-Cerinic, Laura Rasero and Silvia Bellando-Randone

Nurs. Rep. 2024, 14(1), 556-565; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14010043 - 5 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1716

Abstract

Rationale and aim: Health literacy (HL) is pivotal for the successful self-management of chronic diseases. Little HL information is currently available in SSc patients; therefore, the present study aims at evaluating the HL levels in an Italian cohort of SSc patients. Methods: SSc patients were enrolled with the support of Italian patient associations, from September 2022 to March 2023. Health literacy characteristics were derived from the Health Literacy Scale European Questionnaire-16 (HLS-EU-Q16), consisting of 16 items designed on a four-point Likert scale ranging from “very difficult” to “very easy”, and three HL levels were identified: inadequate HL (0–8 score); problematic HL (9–12 score); and sufficient HL (13–16 score). Results: Enrolled patients (n = 57, mean age = 59 years, SD = 13.2) were mostly female (98.2%), partnered (73.7%), and unemployed or retired (67.9%). Almost half of SSc patients were diagnosed more than 10 years ago, with first symptoms appearing on average 19 years ago (SD 10.5). In 63% of the participants, the overall health literacy skills were inadequate, or problematic, especially in the health care and disease prevention domains. Indeed, 49.2% of the patients declared difficulty in finding information on treatments for illnesses and where to get professional help (42.1%), 47.6% found difficulty in retrieving information on how to manage mental health problems, and 40.4% declared difficulties in judging whether the information on health risks in the media was reliable. Conclusions: Our findings show that SSc patients have inadequate or problematic levels of HL, suggesting the need for periodic screenings to uncover poor health literacy skills and to provide tailored and understandable educational material. This study was not registered. Full article

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Self-Management of Chronic Disease

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI