Self-Care Model: The 5C Model Of Intervention

One of the most challenging tasks of diabetes care providers is assisting and supporting patients in performing the necessary self-care behaviours. As stated this routine can most certainly be an uphill task with some patients. The journey from unacceptability to acceptance can be using the well accepted strategies such as recommending effective self-care regimes and educating patients in the importance of their use. We also have to address and implement behavioural interventions which will further help implement patient self-care regimes. This however may be difficult to apply in theory due to the limited time available in a patient consultation.

Having read the literature the 5C model of intervention seems like an appropriate consulting

At this stage I would take a patient-centred approach. I would ask a series of open-ended questions to find out what problems or issues are currently causing the patient distress. It is important to address these issues first. Here it is important to specify the problem and help define it in potentially useful way. For example at this stage a problem definition of “too much snacking” is better than one of “I cannot stick to a diet”. This stops problems becoming unattainable and unrealistic. This should help increase patient confidence in themselves and in the clinician (Rodin J and Janis IL. 1979). Another useful questioning technique as this stage would involve asking helpful questions to encourage the patient to think about diabetes differently. For example, what do you do every day to take care of your diabetes? Why do you do this? With regards to our 48 year old gentleman, he may be concerned about whether his diabetes may affect his job as a lorry driver. Questions he may have could be whether he has to inform the DVLA of his new

The ability to problem solve is correlated with improved health outcomes (Hill-Briggs F. 2003). Firstly we must address the barriers which will affect goal attainment. These can include; emotions, lack of support from social networks, limited resources and the physical environment. It is also good at this stage to identify why these barriers present obstacles for success. In the case of our patient he may feel the physical environment or lack of facilities as a result of his job role may be a burden on his diabetes treatment. We must address this and collaboratively think about how they are going to make the change to overcome