Internet-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management for Youth

Background

Self-management can be defined as “the individual’s ability to manage the symptoms, treatment, physical and psychological consequences, and life style changes inherent in living with a chronic illness” (Barlow, Wright, Sheasby, Turner, & Hainsworth, 2002, pp.178). It is a dynamic and continuous process of self-regulation that encompasses the ability to monitor one’s health condition and to carry out the cognitive, behavioural and emotional responses necessary to maintain a satisfactory quality of life (Barlow et al, 2002). The daily tasks requiring self-management are three-fold:

• 1.

  Taking care of one’s overall health (e.g., healthy eating, being physically active, relaxing and reducing stress, and being knowledgeable about one’s condition, treatments and medications, etc.);

• 2.

  Carrying on with normal activities and roles in life (e.g., maintaining healthy social relationships and staying involved in home, social, and school/work activities); and

• 3.

  Managing the emotional changes that are inherent in the chronic illness experience such as anger, fear, frustration, low mood, etc. (Lorig & Holman, 2003; McGillion LeFort, & Stinson, 2008).

To successfully manage these tasks, individuals with chronic health conditions need a set of core self-management skills which include: problem-solving skills; decision-making skills; how to find, evaluate and utilize appropriate resources; how to work effectively in partnership with health care providers and; how to take action to change behavior (McGillion et al., 2008).