Long-term conditions. 2: supporting and enabling self-care

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Chronic Disease Management
• Patient Empowerment

Background:

• Long-term conditions require effective management strategies.
• Supported self-care is identified as a key approach for chronic illness.
• The Expert Patient Programme (EPP) is a flagship initiative in England and Wales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the Expert Patient Programme as a model for supported self-care.
• To describe the history, content, and models of the EPP.
• To discuss future challenges for the EPP based on evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Review of the Expert Patient Programme's development and implementation.
• Analysis of lay-led self-management principles.
• Inclusion of findings from two external evaluations.

Main Results:

• Supported self-care is effective for 70-80% of patients with chronic conditions.
• The EPP is a key mechanism for patient empowerment and resource demand reduction.
• The programme is being rolled out across the NHS by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

Conclusions:

• The Expert Patient Programme is a vital initiative for managing long-term conditions.
• Future challenges for the EPP require consideration.
• Lay-led self-management programs hold significant potential in healthcare.