Chronic disease self-management (CDSM) is an evidence-based approach to helping individuals with chronic illnesses take an active role in their own health care. CDSM involves a three-pronged approach to managing a chronic disease: education, self-management skills, and lifestyle changes.
The first group of tasks involved in CDSM is education. This includes learning about the chronic illness itself, understanding the different types of treatments available, and learning how to recognize and respond to symptoms. It also involves learning how to make the necessary lifestyle and behavioral changes to improve or maintain one’s health. This can include learning how to modify one’s diet, how to exercise safely, how to manage stress, and how to take medications correctly.
The second group of tasks involves developing self-management skills. This includes setting realistic goals, problem-solving, communicating with health care providers, and managing time and resources. It also involves learning how to build a support system, how to monitor and assess one’s own health, how to access and utilize community resources, and how to use relaxation techniques.
The third group of tasks involves making lifestyle changes. This includes making changes to one’s diet, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and reducing stress. It also involves learning how to manage fatigue, how to cope with feelings of depression or anxiety, and how to manage financial and insurance issues.
These three groups of tasks are integral to CDSM, and each helps individuals with chronic illnesses to take an active role in their own health care. When these tasks are completed in a timely manner, they can help individuals to better manage their chronic illnesses and improve their quality of life.