Clinical Practice of the Proactive Health Concept in Chronic Disease Management: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Neurology Medical Staff

Background: This qualitative study explores the understanding and clinical practice of the proactive health concept among neurology medical staff in managing chronic neurological disorders. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 healthcare professionals from a tertiary hospital in China, and data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Results: Five core themes emerged: (1) education and motivation as core strategies for promoting proactive health; (2) multidimensional factors influencing patient compliance, including cognition, emotion, and family support; (3) the dual role of medical tools and technologies in facilitating and hindering self-management; (4) the nascent state and mixed impact of external support systems such as patient groups and community services; and (5) systemic barriers including time constraints and lack of institutional support. Findings indicate that while medical staff recognize the value of proactive health, its implementation is hindered by individual patient differences, limited clinical resources, and underdeveloped external systems. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for a multi-level support environment involving institutional, policy, societal, and technological dimensions to enable the effective integration of proactive health into chronic disease management.