Table 5 Self-management behaviors that could either follow an on demand or transitional pattern
Type of self-management behavior, number of participants describing the behavior | Number of participants with an on demand pattern | Number of participants with a transitional pattern |
|---|---|---|
Description | Description | |
Stress-management | ||
N = 9 | N = 4 | N = 5 |
(IBD, IHD, CRD) | (rheum, IHD, diab, MS) | |
Participants described how they managed stress when they were in a stressful period, e.g., when their workload caused symptoms. | Participants realized a need to manage and limit stress in their everyday life. They prioritized, planned and could for example start buying home cleaning services. | |
Managing leisure activities | ||
N = 14 | N = 5 | N = 9 |
(IBD, diab, IHD) | (all diagnoses) | |
Participants did not engage in activities during periods when they had more health problems. | The participants changed the way they performed leisure activities; they evaluated their activities, took up previous activities and stopped doing some. | |
Self-talking strategies | ||
N = 18 | N = 6 | N = 10 |
(CRD, IBD, IHD, MS) | (rheum, diab, IHD, MS) | |
Two participants described self-talking strategies too briefly to be classified. | Participants used self-talking strategies only in situations when their disease became problematic (e.g., when the disease had symptoms or a participant was hospitalized). | Participants used self-talking strategies in everyday life as a way to enhance health and participation. |