Self-management education: history, definition, outcomes, and mechanisms

• Published in: Annals of behavioral medicine Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Lorig, Kate R, Holman, Halsted
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-08-2003
• Subjects: Behavior; Behavioral Medicine - methods; Chronic Disease - psychology; Chronic Disease - therapy; Health Promotion - methods; Health psychology; Humans; Insurance, Health - standards; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Patient Education as Topic - methods; Self Care - methods; Self Care - psychology; Self Efficacy; Studies; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0883-6612; 1532-4796
• DOI: 10.1207/S15324796ABM2601_01

Self-management has become a popular term for behavioral interventions as well as for healthful behaviors. This is especially true for the management of chronic conditions. This article offers a short history of self-management. It presents three self-management tasks--medical management, role management, and emotional management--and six self-management skills--problem solving, decision making, resource utilization, the formation of a patient-provider partnership, action planning, and self-tailoring. In addition, the article presents evidence of the effectiveness of self-management interventions and posits a possible mechanism, self-efficacy, through which these interventions work. In conclusion the article discusses problems and solutions for integrating self-management education into the mainstream health care systems.