The Integration of Chronic Illness Self-Management
Abstract
Self-management is crucial for people living with chronic diseases, but the actual process of integrating self-management has not been explored in depth. In this article, we investigate the integration of self-management into the lives of people with chronic illness. In this longitudinal study, we used an interpretive description approach. Twenty-one individuals were interviewed regularly during the first 3 years after they were diagnosed with a chronic condition. We found self-management integration to be an ongoing process that included four phases: seeking effective self-management strategies, considering costs and benefits, creating routines and plans of action, and negotiating self-management that fits one’s life. The participants managed the phases according to their context, e.g., illness experience, life situation, personal beliefs, and social support. Health care providers should therefore facilitate self-management integration by providing support that is adjusted to the person’s phase of self-management integration and life context.
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Qualitative work demonstrates how self-management needs change with time, particularly once clients return home and the focus on medical management diminishes.
“Qualitative work by Satink et al [80], Audulv et al [81], Audulv [82], and others demonstrates how self-management needs change with time, particularly once clients return home and the focus on medical management diminishes.”
From Features of Structured, One-to-One Videoconference Interventions That Actively Engage People in the Management of Their Chronic Conditions: Scoping Review (2025) · cites this paper as [81]
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“Qualitative work by Satink et al [80], Audulv et al [81], Audulv [82], and others demonstrates how self-management needs change with time, particularly once clients return home and the focus on medical management diminishes.”
- Authors
- Audulv, Å., Asplund, K., & Norbergh, K.-G.
- Affiliations
- Mid Sweden University (SE)
- ORCID
- Audulv, Åsa
- Venue
- Qualitative Health Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-12-13
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 332-345
- ISSN
- 1049-7323 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7557
- OpenAlex
- W2160872148
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 2.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Qualitative Health Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Mittuniversitetet
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Chronic Disease Management Strategies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Keywords
- chronic disease self-management, illness experience, social support, personal beliefs, healthcare provider support, life context
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Self Care, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Sweden, Time Factors, Trust, Young Adult
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