Professional nurses' perspectives on the implementation of integrated chronic disease management model.

Background:  The integrated chronic disease management (ICDM) model is seen to be a promising strategy as it is gaining global acceptance as an approach to enhance healthcare delivery.

Objectives:  The study objectives were to explore and describe professional nurses' perspectives on the model, identify challenges experienced during implementation and identify factors that could improve the model implementation.

Method:  An explorative, descriptive qualitative design was used, nine professional nurses from three selected facilities were interviewed. Data obtained from semi-structured individual interviews were analysed using thematic analysis and NVivo software.

Results:  Three main themes emerged: the professional nurses' perceived benefits of the model, challenges experienced during implementation and recommendations to ensure effective implementation of the model. The perceived benefits of the model included the integration of care, adequate medication and the alleviation of stigma related to diseases. However, the challenges of the model included a shortage of staff, poor infrastructure and patients missing scheduled appointments. The study noted the need for adequate staff, infrastructure and ongoing training for the successful implementation of the model.

Conclusion:  Despite challenges in the South African healthcare system, professional nurses perceived the implementation of the model positively. The study highlighted the need for adequate staff, adequate infrastructure and ongoing training for staff.Contribution: This study outlined the challenges and recommendations identified, enabling healthcare organisations, policymakers and educators to develop targeted strategies for successful implementation. The findings will also inform future research focussed on optimising the utilisation of the model in the study setting and similar contexts.