Report on Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

        The aim of this article is to determine the factors which might act as barriers and facilitators to the self-management, explained by adults suffering from a chronic illness. This identification will be carried out using a qualitative metasynthesis. Self-management is actually the active management people in terms of a chronic illness with the help of their clinicians and family members. The design used for this article is a qualitative metasynthesis and fifty-three studies were analyzed by the authors on the factors that were able to affect self-management in a chronic illness just as reported by adults with age more than eighteen years. In order to review the qualitative metasynthesis, Barroso and Sandelowsi approach was adopted. Overall, 16 chronic illnesses were considered by the authors and 5 categories of factors were affecting the self-management. The article plays an important role in informing interventions which are customized for meeting the needs of individuals and improving health results.

Design of A Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

            It can be said that qualitative metasynthesis is an incorporation of findings obtained from the qualitative studies with the goal to produce interpretive translations, generalizations, grand narratives, and theories. This is the approach that has been used in this article and for completing this metasynthesis, methodological procedures were followed by the authors which were outlined by Borroso and Sandelowski: first is literature search, second one is quality appraisal, third one is analysis, and fourth one is the synthesis of findings. I believe that this approach is quite effective because a proper outline for the metasynthesis approach is being used. There is a linear direct that is provided by Borroso and Sandelowski which is followed by authors that is time-efficient and ensures success.

Search Methods of A Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

            Authors started with a thorough literature study for identifying every article that utilized a qualitative method for describing the factors which were influencing self-management from the point of view adults suffering from a chronic illness. The authors took the help of a medical librarian and for search for articles in different medical databases for finding the most precise articles. I think that this decision was accurate as they chose to depend on a proper expert rather than trying to find the articles on their own. Different terms and often combinations were used for searching the articles. Self-care as a keyword was not used by the authors because it commonly refers to healthy behaviors. Studies were also included with data from healthcare providers, family caregivers, or children. The articles focusing on psychological illnesses were excluded since self-management experience might be different within such populations. Additionally, secondary analysis, dissertations, works on the basis of theory, literature reviews, and metasynthesis of interventions of self-management were excluded.

            In order to summarize and classify the studies, information was recorded from each and every article on the design of study, factors, and sample characteristics that were impacting or influencing self-management. Eligible articles were actually distributed among the suitable authors as it not only proved to be more effective but also in achieving the needed information as soon as possible (Galvan & Galvan, 2017).

Psychosocial factors of A Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

            Authors identified the factors affecting the self-management and classified them under different classes. Psychosocial factors are classified under the main category of Resources. Overall, this class includes equipment and psychosocial subclasses. Authors cites psychosocial support as a factor that seemed to impact the efforts of self-management in both negative and positive ways. It was reported by individuals that positive support from peers or partners was very important and influential. Friends and family, especially the ones nearby assisted a lot with several aspects of self-management which includes reminder about medication, accompanying the patients to checkups, and preparing the food which is healthy. However, it was also reported by these individuals that the negative support or lack of support from the peers and partners is actually a barrier to self-management. For instance, the absence of support for a complete new diet was determined as a barrier to the following recommendations of treatment. The part of peer support and support groups has been highlighted by many adults as a very significant facilitator to the self-management. Particularly, peers and support groups with same conditions seemed to offer an opportunity for sharing the information and feel a connection to the community. At last, isolation was explained as an obstacle to the self-management (Ryan, et al., 2007).

How this article draws attention to these psychosocial factors?

            The objective of this article has been all about determining the factors which are important and influence self-management of adults suffering chronic illnesses. Other than just identifying the factors, authors have also classified them and explained them with examples. Psychosocial factors concern the emotional support that patients get from their peers and fellows. It has always been important to note that patients with almost any type of disease are able to recover quicker when they are obtaining positive feedback and support from those around him and taking care of him. The classic example is a mother caring for her child and even if that child cannot get up under normal circumstances, he would be able to stay conscious if the mother is being tender with him. The weight that his mother cares for him will be sufficient for giving support to the child.

            Individuals with chronic diseases seem to lose their willpower to fight the illness and it causes them to succumb to whatever the fate has in for them. Therefore, when they are getting positive support from others around him, he is able to show recovery and this article sheds light to such psychosocial factors which can play an integral part in improving the self-management of adults suffering from chronic illnesses. Families can take the advantage of these psychosocial factors and rely on them when they are caring for the patients. It can help them show positive support which might be able to help the patient recover faster than what is predicted. There are little activities that can have a significant impact on the patient and these activities are identified by psychosocial factors (Barkway, 2013).

Interdisciplinary approach of A Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

            This article is focusing on the identification of factors which affect self-management of adults who are suffering from chronic illnesses. What makes the interdisciplinary approach of this article effective is that it has identified the influencing factors of not a single category but various categories and sub-categories. It helps all the researchers and healthcare experts that don’t want to study all the factors but just a specific class or sub-class. That is the most important reason why this article adopts an interdisciplinary approach.

Conclusion on Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

            This article would help me in identifying factors from a specific class so that I don’t have to face a difficulty in finding them using different sources. Furthermore, examples have been given which make it easier for me to understand just how the factors can be implemented in clinical practice. There are people suffering from chronic illnesses and any solution can prove to be beneficial and this articles contributes a lot in helping individuals and healthcare experts in realizing just how they can help or boost the recovery of patients. It can also determine the obstacles to the self-management of adults suffering from chronic illnesses (Schulman‐Green, et al., 2016).

References of A Metasynthesis of Factors Affecting Self-Management of Chronic Illness

Barkway, P., 2013. Psychology for health professionals. s.l.:Elsevier Health Sciences.

Galvan, J. L. & Galvan, M. C., 2017. Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences. s.l.:Routledge.

Ryan, F., Coughlan, M. & Cronin, P., 2007. Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 2: Qualitative research. British Journal of Nursing, Volume 16, pp. 738-744.

Schulman‐Green, D., Jaser, S. S., Park, C. & Whittemore, R., 2016. A metasynthesis of factors affecting self‐management of chronic illness. Journal of advanced nursing, 72(7), pp. 1469-1489.