Me, myself and I

What self-care really means, why it matters and what part it plays in the wider healthcare ecosystem

Self-care is well known in the world we live in today, with popular culture and social media continuously sharing various elements of self-care – all designed to enhance our overall well-being.

When some people think of self-care, they think about acts of self-interest such as bubble baths or mindfulness activities, but in reality, self-care is so much more than that.

As defined by the World Health Organization, self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health and cope with illness and disability, with or without the support of a health worker.

These interventions include medicines, devices, diagnostics and digital tools, and also encompasses practices, habits and lifestyle choices. In short, self-care is healthcare.

Throughout history, self-care has been an integral part of healthcare. Traditionally, people managed their health through self-care practices until scientific and medical advancements redefined it.

As health systems have shifted their focus from disease prevention to disease treatment, self-care began to be seen as less essential.

As societies and research have progressed and evolved, and the burden of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and oral care) has grown, there has been a notable shift back towards self-care.

Health systems worldwide are facing a range of challenges, long-term ill health is on the rise, health disparities are growing and structures are overstretched. Evidence-based self-care offers a promising path toward sustainable healthcare and ensuring health and well-being for all.

By promoting prevention, empowerment, health literacy and cost-effective health management, self-care complements existing healthcare delivery systems across the globe.

These self-care interventions provide greater choice, access, control, satisfaction and affordable options to manage healthcare needs.

Educating and enabling individuals to optimise their health by managing common conditions through preventative self-care strategies empowers them to become better self-managers of their own health, making appropriate choices for themselves and their families.

The responsible use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines plays a huge role in preventative self-care, as people manage self-treatable conditions without the need to see a family doctor or visit an emergency department.

These are products that people can safely select, and use, based on guidance provided through product leaflets, pharmacists and other trusted sources, making them an essential tool for healthcare.

Every year at least 25 million GP appointments and five million A&E appointments are used for self-treatable illnesses in the UK.

Furthermore, 75% of GP appointments for self-treatable conditions have resulted in advice to use OTC medicines.

On a global scale, it is well documented that self-care delivers both social and economic benefits, regardless of the country’s health system and demographic status.

The Global Social and Economic Value of Self-Care study found that current self-care practices deliver significant economic savings and quality of life improvements.

These benefits include $120 billion annual savings, savings of 40.8 billion productive days for both health practitioners and individuals – equivalent to an average of 11.83 workdays per person per year – and an increase of 22 million quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), the standard metric for evaluating health outcomes.

Accessing the full range of quality health services where and when they are needed should not be cost prohibitive for people – it should be a fundamental human right.

The evidence is clear that the individuals and communities who adopt self-care practices improve their knowledge and health literacy, mental well-being, physical activity, diet, risk avoidance and mitigation behaviours, hygiene and rational use of products and services.

This not only enables people to make active choices and informed decisions in order to promote their own health, but also helps prevent disease and better manage illness and disability with or without the support of health workers.

Ultimately, integrating self-care into health systems has the potential to improve the quality of health services, improve the efficient use of healthcare services and reduce health inequalities globally.

In this era of rapid social, technological and environmental change, which profoundly affects public health, the future of self-care is complex and multifaceted.

It hinges on access, continued innovation and a collective effort spanning input from consumers, communities, healthcare providers, regulators and policymakers.

Policymakers and health leaders need to recognise the contribution that self-care can make to the health of individuals and healthcare systems worldwide.

A critical, evidenced based approach on public health policy is needed to understand the processes involved in developing healthcare self-management policies from the perspective of a democratic system.

Only by fully integrating self-care into national health systems and policies, will we achieve universal health coverage and sustainable healthcare.

We can all play our part in achieving this outcome, and our efforts are amplified when we join with other individuals, communities and stakeholders to move the needle forward on a World Health Organization resolution on self-care.

The #SelfCareIs movement aims to inform and educate about the vital connection between self-care and healthcare.

By starting this movement, we aim to demonstrate the importance of self-care and its contribution to healthcare, encouraging everyone to become active agents in their own health and to inspire others to do the same.

The Global Self-Care Federation envisions a world where self-care is recognised, embraced and seamlessly integrated into healthcare systems, enabling individuals to lead healthier, more empowered lives.

Judy Stenmark is Director General of The Global Self-Care Federation.
Go to selfcarefederation.org