Ineffective Self -Management Of Family Health

Nursing Diagnosis: Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health

Nursing diagnoses are defined as “a clinical judgment about an individual, family, or community response to actual or potential health problems/life processes.” In this context, Inadequate Self-Management of Family Health is the nursing diagnosis that assesses an individual’s (or family’s) difficulty in carrying out a plan of care to manage his/her health.

Nursing Diagnosis Definition

The NANDA definition of Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health is: An individual’s (or family’s) inability to carry out a plan of care to achieve and maintain desired health outcomes.

Defining Characteristics

Subjectives

• Perceived non-adherence to health maintenance activities
• Self reported inability to carry out a plan of care
• Lack of self-confidence in health management abilities
• Non-adherence with prescribed medications and treatments
• Lack of understanding of individual and family roles in health management
• Failure to complete a health questionnaire

Objectives

• Inadequate documentation of health tracking indices
• Inappropriate behavior towards prescribed medications, treatments or activities
• Delays in completion of health care activities
• Failure to follow through with treatment plan
• Decreased self-managing behaviors
• Failure to utilize health promotion strategies and/or activities

Related Factors

The factors associated with Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health include:

• Lack of health beliefs or values
• Insufficient knowledge about self-management
• Inadequate support from family, significant others, health care providers
• Lack of perceived importance to self-management
• Difficulties with problem solving
• Erroneous or distorted perceptions

Risk Population

Those at risk for Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health may include individuals with:

• Chronic illnesses
• Developmental disabilities
• Cognitive decline due to aging
• Lack of health screenings
• Impaired functioning
• Uncontrolled lifestyle risk factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use, diet, sedentary lifestyle)

Associated Problems

Common problems associated with Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health include:

• Misuse of medication
• Compromised physical functioning
• Adverse interaction with medications or treatments
• Increased risk of infection
• Negative health outcomes
• Reduced quality of life

Suggested Use

The Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health nursing diagnosis may be used in hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health care agencies and other health care settings as needed. This diagnosis should be considered when assessing individuals or families who have difficulty managing their health or understanding the importance of adhering to a plan of care.

Suggested Alternate Nursing Diagnosis

In addition to the diagnosis of Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health, nurses may consider alternate diagnoses such as:

• Ineffective Health Maintenance
• Ineffective Decision Making
• Ineffective Knowledge about Self-Management
• Ineffective Coping
• Ineffective Aid-Seeking Behavior

Usage Tips

• Assess family or individual resources available to assist with self-management behaviors
• Assess the individual’s or family’s health beliefs and values
• Provide health education regarding goal setting and self-management activities
• Encourage the development of support networks to assist with achieving self-management goals
• Monitor progress of individual and family goals related to self-management

NOC Results

• Personal Health Practices: The ability to engage in health behaviors necessary to promote, maintain or restore health.
• Coping: The ability to appropriately manage stress or other environmental demands.
• Decision Making: The ability to recognize a situation and make appropriate decisions.
• Knowledge: The acquisition and understanding of factual information about physiologic and psychosocial aspects of health care.
• Self-Care: Ability to perform activities of daily living that enable one to maintain optimal health.

NIC Interventions

• Behavioral Interventions: Strategies to modify behaviors to enhance health and well-being (i.e. physical activity, diet).
• Self-Management Support: Assistance and reinforcement to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to engage in self care and/or disease management.
• Environmental Interventions: Use of external cues and reinforcements (i.e. medication reminders, exercise reminders).
• Teaching: Self-Care/Home Management: Provision of instruction related to health maintenance and self-care activities.
• Interviewing: Identification of individual values, attitudes and beliefs related to health and lifestyle.

Conclusion

Nurses play an integral role in supporting individuals and families in managing their health. The Nursing Diagnosis: Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health provides a framework for assessment and interventions to support those who are having difficulty maintaining their health. Nurses can use the NAND nursing diagnosis to provide guidance for individualized care planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How is the Nursing Diagnosis: Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health determined?
  • This diagnosis is determined by an assessment of the individual’s or family’s level of understanding of health management, adherence to health care plans, and ability to identify and utilize resources to manage their health.
• What are the common associated problems with Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health?
  • Common problems associated with Ineffective Self-Management of Family Health include misuse of medications, compromised physical functioning, negative health outcomes and a reduced quality of life.