Self Management

There is an estimated 15.4 million people in England living with a longstanding illness. Obesity is a major concern with Britain topping the tables as the most obese nation in Europe. Drug and alcohol abuse is rising while smoking causes 80,000 deaths every year. These issues are a major financial burden to the nation.

Getting individuals to change their behaviour could substantially reduce the cost to society as a whole. More importantly it could decrease premature death, illness and increase the quality of life of many of the most vulnerable people.

Last year Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London published an independent review on health inequalities in England called Fair Society, Health Lives. It identified that material circumstance, the social environment and psychosocial dynamics are all important factors in the health and wellbeing of individuals. He suggested that people need to consider the wider context of their lives if they want to improve their health. Recent research has shown that social networks exert a powerful influence on individual behaviour, affecting weight, smoking habits and happiness.

Despite this, it is not clear whether individuals are aware of what opportunities are out there or if they have simply chosen to ignore them. Success will only be achieved if the recipients chose to change their behaviour, but what will be the best mechanism to get them to do this? Self management is a philosophy and a concept that has yield major benefits. It brings together communities that share their experiences of living with long term conditions and helps individuals take control of their own lives. To find out more visit the Expert Patient Programme.

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Alan Shaw

Director & Senior Lecturer at Strategic Planet & Leeds Beckett University

Dr Alan Shaw is a Senior Lecturer and Marketing consultant focusing on a range of sectors. His main interests are in strategy development, social marketing, digital marketing, advertising, consumer behaviour and marketing application.