Self-care: a health diary study

Area of Science:

• Health behavior research
• Sociology of health and illness
• Patient self-management

Background:

• Growing interest in self-care contrasts with limited research on its broader aspects beyond self-medication.
• Illness behavior literature has largely overlooked the multifaceted nature of patient self-care strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the practice and content of self-care among women experiencing medical problems.
• To identify nonmedical actions and events perceived as therapeutically beneficial by patients.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study involving 26 women maintaining a health diary over a 4-week period.
• Qualitative data collection on daily self-care practices and perceived therapeutic benefits.

Main Results:

• Self-care was implemented on over 80% of days when women experienced medical issues.
• Participants utilized self-medication, sought professional/lay support, and engaged in numerous 'nonmedical' therapeutic actions.
• Reported benefits extended beyond conventional medical interventions.

Conclusions:

• Self-care, akin to illness, necessitates a holistic assessment integrating social, psychological, and medical factors.
• Further research is needed to understand the content and process of extensive patient self-care.
• Realizing potential health and economic benefits of self-care support requires comprehensive information on existing practices.