Self-Management

Self-management is becoming increasingly pertinent, given current health-care system constraints, payer sources, chronic effects of communication impairments, and geographical constraints to accessing direct health care. Kate Lorig and colleagues have written extensively about the principles of self-management in health care, education, and health promotion. A cohesive definition for self-management is hard to establish because it is intended to be individualized and adaptable. In their 2000 publication, Lorig and colleagues offer one potential, comprehensive definition that self-management attempts to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to manage disease-related problems in order to manage medical care, maintain life roles, deal with fear, depression, and other negative emotions, in collaboration with professionals in the health-care system. Julie Barlow and colleagues provide a similar view in their ...