Self-management of chronic conditions: the legacy of Sir

at an enormous rate, although the majority of new cases are occurring in developing countries.3 Morbidity associated with chronic diseases is thus a growing problem. Life expectancies of people with chronic illnesses have increased in developed countries and are increasing in developing countries, but so have the costs of medical care for chronic diseases. The development of effective treatments for infectious and acute illnesses, including HIV/AIDS and some forms of cancer, has turned some acute illnesses into chronic diseases that require lifetime selfmanagement. The increasing prevalence of chronic disease and the increasing costs of healthcare create a huge array of expenses that will overwhelm the finite medical and personal resources of any given country. Any way in which the burden of chronic diseases — which usually persist for the remainder of the life of an individual — can be reduced is of value. Self-management, whereby individuals, in collaboration with healthcare professionals, assume greater responsibility for healthcare decisions, is one promising approach to improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs associated with chronic diseases.