Healthcare professionals’ insights into Medicare-rebated chronic disease management plans on self-management among patients with diabetes: A qualitative study

Background and Purpose Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans aim to coordinate care for patients with chronic conditions and promote self-management. This qualitative study examines healthcare professionals’ views on how Medicare-funded CDM plans influence diabetes self-management, using Andersen’s Behavioural Model of Health Services Use (AMBHSU) as a theoretical framework.Methods Ten Australian general practitioners, diabetes educators, dietitians, nurses, and a practice manager who actively use CDM plans participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed thematically. Emergent themes were mapped onto AMBHSU constructs, predisposing factors, enabling resources, and need (perceived and evaluated) to understand how these determinants shape CDM use and self-management support.Results CDM effectiveness emerged across three levels. At the patient level, motivation, engagement, responsibility, and comorbidity burden influenced ongoing self-management. At the professional level, multidisciplinary collaboration, time constraints, and remuneration shaped the delivery of CDM. At the system level, policy and structural constraints affected person-centred care, shared goals, and collaborative decision-making. Enablers and barriers were with implications for care planning were identified.Conclusion To improve diabetes self-management, reforms should better align CDM services with patient needs, strengthen multidisciplinary coordination, and promote shared decision-making. A blended funding model supporting extended team-based care and sustained follow-up may enhance CDM effectiveness.