The duo-formula

This paper describes research on innovative ways to promote the practice of self-care by people with a chronic complaint. Considerable interest in the subject exists, as confirmed by interviews with patient groups and with a random sample of general practitioners, specialists and community nurses. The answers, however, reflected some uncertainty regarding how to carry out self-care effectively. The study reported here is part of a wider programme of research on the area between conventional health care and self-care, including the development of training programmes for medical professionals and lay people.