To support self‐management for people with long‐term conditions – The effect on shared decision‐making, empowerment and coping after participating in group‐learning sessions

INTRODUCTION: Interventions that support patients to handle the emotional and medical aspects of a long‐term health condition is important. One way is to use peer‐support groups, to help patients solving problems, increasing their knowledge and making decisions. AIM: was to investigate the impact on shared decision‐making, empowerment and coping after participation in group‐learning sessions for patients with long‐term conditions (N = 42). DESIGN: An intervention following a health education programme based on group‐learning sessions was established. Eight different programmes were held in five different departments at a regional county hospital in Sweden. METHODS: Questionnaires were analysed using paired‐sample t‐test. RESULTS: Results showed that patients might have better opportunities to be more active during their patient encounter after attending the group learning sessions. Interventions directed to patient activation may be one key in future healthcare management, especially concerning long‐term conditions. Empowering patients is central in healthcare, and using different approaches is important.