Examples of survey tools for use in supported self-management
Self-management needs and behaviours
- Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire
- focuses on people with diabetes
- 16 items focused on blood sugar management, dietary control, physical activity and healthcare use
- available in multiple languages. Developed in Europe
- can be used as an individual assessment tool or measure to track progress before and after an intervention
- Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ)
- explores impact of long-term conditions on people’s lives and the individual support they want or need
- 20-item tool developed in the UK
- no cost
- Physical Activity Scale
- various tools to measure whether people are taking part in self-management behaviours, such as eating healthily and being active
- can be used to identify the support behaviours and needs of individuals or groups, or to assess change after interventions
- no cost
- Self-Management Assessment Scale
- tool to help a person self-assess their self-management strengths, needs and possible barriers
- focuses on knowledge, goals for the future, daily routines, emotional adjustment and social support
- can be used in conversations with professionals
- can be used to tailor support for individuals or to measure change after an intervention
- tested in various parts of the world and with people with different conditions
- no cost
Health literacy*
* The ability to obtain, read, understand, and use healthcare information. Given that 43–61% of the working age population in England do not routinely understand the health information they are given (Institute of Health Equity/Public Health England 2015), a Universal Precautions approach (based on using simple language, checking understanding and avoiding the use of medical jargon and acronyms) rather than a measurement approach is generally recommended in most situations.
- Single Item Screener (SILS)
- single question that can be added to other questionnaires
- asks how often a person needs someone’s help when they read health information. Usually used as a one-off assessment rather than a before and after measure
- needs to be sensitively administered and may be most helpful when used in conjunction with techniques such as teach back
- no cost
- many other longer health literacy tools are available
- Newest Vital Sign (NVS)
- people are given a food label and asked six questions
- available in English and Spanish
- short; takes 3 minutes. Designed for one-off use
- no cost
Enablement/activation
- Consumer Health Activation Index (CHAI)
- examines knowledge, self-efficacy, beliefs, activity and internal locus of control
- can be used as an individual assessment tool to help tailor support, or as a measure of impact after an intervention
- no cost, but requires registration
- Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®)
- 10- or 13-item scale categorises people into four levels of activation or readiness to self-manage
- case studies and summary of evidence are available here.
- mainly used as an individual assessment tool. Can be used before and after interventions
- Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI)
- 6-item scale exploring whether enablement improves following a primary care visit
- used at one point in time; people are asked to reflect on whether things are much better, better or the same, or not as good following a consultation
- 3 items from this are used in the General Practice Assessment Questionnaire, so it may be possible to draw on existing data at population level
- no cost
Self-efficacy*
*The extent to which a person believes in their ability to self-manage.
- Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy
- 6-item scale validated in many languages
- developed in the US, so wording may need to be adapted for use in the UK
- no cost
- Self-Management Screening Tool
- 27 items about self-efficacy, whether people feel they control what happens to them, depression, anxiety, coping, social support, and burden of disease
- developed in Europe
- mainly used to tailor individual support but can be used as before and after measure
- no cost
Wellbeing/health status quality of life
- EQ-5D
- short tools to measure quality of life, including mobility, self-management, usual activities, pain and anxiety
- available in over 200 languages and various formats
- can be used as before and after measure
- widely used so can compare with other initiatives
- Personal Wellbeing (ONS4)
- used in the Office for National Statistics’ Measuring National Wellbeing (MNW) Programme
- asks people to evaluate how satisfied they are with their life overall
- used by some UK social prescribing link workers, both when they start working with people and later. Some other areas use Outcomes Star™, a set of visual tools including some for young people
- PROMIS®
- many domains to choose from, including physical health, mental health and social health/isolation
- includes scales for adults and for children
- can be used as before and after measures
- developed in the US
- no cost
- Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
- used for both populations and individual interventions
- short. Validated in several languages
- need to register to use, but no cost
Extent to which professionals or systems support self-management
- Practices in Self-Management Support
- developed in the UK to measure clinicians’ self-reported use of supported self-management practices in consultations
- Clinician Support for Patient Activation Measure (CSPAM)
- explores professionals’ attitudes towards using the PAM tool
- used in the UK and internationally
- Assessment of Primary Care Resources and Supports for Chronic Disease Self-Management
- developed by a group focused on diabetes, but can be used more broadly in primary care
- designed to track progress in organisations over time
- developed outside the UK, so wording may need to be adapted
- online version available
- Patient Assessment of Care for Chronic Conditions (PACIC)
- 20- and 26-item scales developed in the US
- looks at a variety of elements of care. Supported self-management is one element