Self-management: its place in the management of chronic illnesses

Abstract

Self-management programs are now regarded as important facets in the overall care of people with chronic illnesses.They are seen as producing long-lasting benefits both to participants and to the health system in terms of reducedhospitalisations and reduced lengths of stay, as well as decreasing medication usage. In this article we examine whatconstitutes self-management and the evidence supporting the views that the benefits are unequivocal. We argue thatgreater attention to research design is required before the benefits can be assessed. We also argue that greater attentionmust be paid to access issues for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) and lower socioeconomicstatus.