The UK “Expert Patient Program” and self-care in chronic disease management: An analysis

Abstract

The increase in chronic illness and co-morbidity has resulted in a shift in responsibility and self-care initiatives to the patient and away from the caregivers. The notion of self-care is internationally being recognized as a component of chronic disease management. In the recent decade, public health policymaker's and health services researchers likewise have been advocating a change in relationship between individual's health needs and responsibilities and the state. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, developed in the USA and adopted in UK as the Expert Patients Program, has an overall objective to encourage patients suffering from chronic conditions to become more involved in their own treatment process. Despite its potential in empowering patients, the Expert Patients Program has failed to reach those most in need and recognized as perpetuating the traditional orthodox medical model. The idea of “The Expert Patient” as is now faced with a number of contextual problems including clinicians’ lack of engagement with the program, recruitment, lack of course materials specifically designed for particular chronic condition. Additionally, the EPP has been blamed for its inability to foster alliance between professional and patient. The unanswered question is that if the current popularity in “Self Care” trend is an outcome of uniquely broken healthcare systems desperately seeking a fix or a genuine effort in resurrection of “patient-provider alliance” for a better chronic disease care outcome?