People living with chronic conditions and their carers, have become principal health care providers and funders in their own right. A significant proportion of day-to-day management of their conditions can be under their direct control.
![Everyday living with a chronic condition pie graph - smallest area clinical care, third of day showing sleep and a little under two thirds showing daily living - an arrow wraps around the image with the text self-management](/~/media/Images/Corporate/article-images/Chronic-conditions-self-management/150324CCSMPie.jpg)
Health care providers all along the continuum of care, as well as providing clinical care, can support patients to optimise how they self-manage when they return to home.
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Definitions
What is a chronic condition?
Chronic conditions are characterised by:
- complex causes
- multiple risk factors
- long latency periods
- a prolonged course of illness
- functional impairment or disability.
Most chronic diseases or conditions do not resolve spontaneously and are generally not cured completely.
Some chronic conditions:
- can be immediately life-threatening, for example stroke
- can persist over time and can be intensive in terms of management, for example: diabetes
- .are not always the cause of death, for example arthritis.
What is chronic condition self-management?
Self-Management is defined in the National Chronic Disease Strategy and the WA Chronic Conditions Self-Management Strategic Framework as simply ‘the active participation by people in their own health care’.
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Self-managing a condition
People living with chronic conditions already manage their conditions on a daily basis and to varying degrees. Self-managing involves:
- knowing about your condition
- sharing in decision-making
- following an agreed care plan
- monitoring and managing signs and symptoms
- managing the impact on physical, emotional and social life
- adopting a healthy lifestyle and
- having the confidence and ability to access to community support services.
What is chronic condition self-management support?
Self-management support is what health care providers, organisations, systems and the community do to support people living with a chronic condition to be actively involved in their own health care.
Principles of CCSM support
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At the core of self-management support is a partnership between health providers and consumers. Commonly accepted principles for self-management support are:
- person-centred care
- consumer empowerment and enhanced capacity
- participation by consumer and carers
- partnership between health provider and consumer
- shared responsibility for outcomes
- coordination of support
- access to appropriate, timely and understandable information
- holistic, lifelong approach to health.
What is a self-management approach?
The self-management approach emphasises the person’s central role in managing their health.
It includes strategies of assessment, collaborative care, client empowerment and enhanced capacity, links them to community resources, and employs a holistic, lifelong approach to health and self-care.
The self-management approach can be utilised anywhere along the healthcare continuum.
Principles of person-centred care
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- respect for patients’ values, preferences and expressed needs
- coordination and integration of care
- information, communication and education
- physical comfort
- emotional support and alleviation of fear and anxiety
- involvement of family and friends
- transition and continuity
- access to care.
What is a chronic condition self-management program?
Self-management programs offer people with chronic conditions the knowledge, skills and resources to help them better manage their health.
CCSM programs are not:
- educational programs
- cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
- peer support groups on their own.
Resources
Information sheets
Produced by
Chronic Condition Self-Management