Despite the vast amount of evidence supporting the effectiveness of chronic condition self-management, no generic instrument exists to assess self-management. In light of this, the Partners in Health (PIH) scale was developed and then piloted for acceptability. Forty-six patients completed the PIH pilot scale, with positive feedback from the patients, GPs, and other health professionals in the pilot program. The PIH scale has demonstrated potential to be a reliable and valid measure of chronic condition self-management. A future study is proposed, however, to confirm the findings presented here. The PIH scale may help health professionals to introduce the concept of self-management to their patients/clients, and provides a rapid checklist of areas of self-management that may lead to interventions targeted to the individual. Out of the many terms used in the literature, self-management is the term decided on here to refer to the active involvement of the patient in the management of their chronic medical condition.

Phase I of this study was designed to inform the development of a range of responses to hazardous and harmful amphetamine use. Research techniques from Rapid Assessment Methodology (RAM) were utilized to collect data. A survey of current amphetamine users included the Short Form 36 (SF36) Health Status Questionnaire, for which South Australian population norms were published in 1995. This facilitated comparisons of the health of this sample of amphetamine users with that of the general population. The sample were found to have significantly poorer health than the general population. The self-reported prevalence of mental health problems in the sample was consistent with previous Australian research on amphetamine use. Approximately one-third of the sample reported that they had experienced symptoms of anxiety, depression, mood swings and aggressive outbursts prior to their use of amphetamines. Two-thirds of the sample reported symptoms of anxiety and depression since starting to use amphetamines, almost half reported mood swings and aggressive outbursts, and over a third reported panic attacks and paranoia. One of the most important findings was a strong association between mental and physical health problems and the severity of dependence on amphetamines. The implications of these results for interventions with amphetamine users are discussed.

The problems and goals approach (P&G) is a therapeutic assessment and intervention used in the behavioural psychotherapy field. P&G is a patient-centred, pragmatic technique in which the patient and health professional determine the patient?s problems and formulate realistic medium term goals based on measurable outcomes. P&G was utilised in the SA HealthPlus first round Coordinated Care Trial in South Australia with intervention patients who had chronic medical conditions. This article presents a case study from SA HealthPlus. The aim of this article is to introduce the practical workings of P&G and provide some observations about this technique.

This study was designed as a needs assessment for interventions to respond to hazardous and harmful amphetamine use, including options for treatment. Research techniques from Rapid Assessment Methodology (RAM) were utilized to collect data. This included a survey of 100 amphetamine users, from which the data for the current paper has been drawn. This paper is focused on the characteristics of those who had sought information and help in the sample, and on those who were dependent on amphetamine and who felt they needed treatment, in comparison to those who were also dependent but did not feel the need for treatment. Findings in regard to treatment‐seekers were largely consistent with previous Australian and overseas research, and thus underscore the importance of considering psychological morbidity, both prior and subsequent to amphetamine use, in treatment settings for amphetamine users. Having previously sought general information about amphetamines, safer drug use and blood‐borne diseases was best predicted by higher sexual risk‐taking and poorer physical functioning. Having previously sought help for an amphetamine‐related concern or problem was best predicted by higher severity of dependence on amphetamines and poorer social functioning. Peers were considered to be important sources of information and help, as were GPs. In developing interventions for amphetamine users, consideration should be given to the characteristics of those who seek particular types of assistance.

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