Self-management programme for patients with long-term inflammatory bowel disease

Self-management interventions for long-term conditions have existed for more than a decade. The move from the traditional patient follow-up to self-managment has been due to the pressures in the NHS to improve efficiency and meet targets. The patient role is evolving, and patients are being encouraged to take control and actively participate in their disease management. In this article, Sharon Gethins, Tracey Duckett, Chris Shatford and Richard Robinson aim to evaluate the benefits of self-management in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).