- One aspect of self-management support (Adams et al., 2004) focuses on is the educational strategies and techniques used by nurses, and other health-care professionals. These educational strategies, termed self-management education, offer solutions to complement the professionally managed care and education the client is already receiving (Health Council of Canada, 2010).
- Client education has often focused largely on the disease process, where technical skills related to managing the disease are taught. The focus of self-management education is teaching clients skills that they can use to self-identify problems related to living with a chronic disease and how to address those problems.
- Both types of education are essential in assisting the individual to achieve the best quality of life and independence.
- Self-management education has long been considered the essential first step in successfully preparing clients to manage and live with their chronic condition.
- Self-directed goal-setting, problem-solving, skill-buildingG, action planning, healthy coping, stress management, self-monitoring and providing links to community resources have been effectively used in successful client education programs (Anderson & Funnell, 2005; Bodenheimer et al., 2005; Bodenheimer & Handley, 2009; Glasgow et al., 2002; Hill-Briggs & Gemmell, 2007; Lorig et al., 2001; Mullen et al., 1997; Newman et al., 2004; Norris et al., 2002; Tang & Lansky, 2005)
Chronic Disease
Strategies to Support Self Management in Chronic Conditions
Background Information