Helping patients help themselves: A systematic review of self-management support strategies in primary health care practice

This review highlights core components of successful interventions showing positive clinical and/or humanistic outcomes. Whilst it was difficult to directly correlate individual strategies to outcomes and effectiveness, there was a clear distinction of strategies across the conditions studied. This review provides encouraging groundwork for the design and evaluation of practical strategies for evidence-based practice and the construction of self-management support processes in primary healthcare practice. This review may assist in determining the breadth and focus of the support primary care professionals provide. Application of a theoretical perspective provides a strong base for the development of SMS interventions. The developed model sets the foundation for the design and evaluation of practical strategies for the construct of self-management support in primary healthcare practice. These results may be used to justify additional research investigating self-management interventions delivered in the primary care setting. In response, primary care providers can begin to deeply reflect on current practice and become involved in a dialogue to improve self-management support. Critically, these results should stimulate informed discussion for the future delivery of self-management support in primary care and the requirements for upskilling healthcare providers to effectively support patients in this collaborative process.

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