Helping Patients Help Themselves: Are Canadians with Chronic Conditions Getting the Support They Need to Manage Their Health?

Many Canadians with chronic health conditions don’t regularly receive some of the expected types of support that could help them better manage their own health.

This bulletin - Helping Patients Help Themselves: Are Canadians with chronic conditions getting the support they need to manage their health? - is based on the 2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care, which measured the quality of health care as reported by Canadian patients, including those with seven common chronic conditions.

“Self-management is recognized as a crucial aspect of primary health care, and has been shown to reduce emergency room visits and hospital admissions,” said John G. Abbott, CEO of the Health Council of Canada. “Patients – particularly those with chronic conditions – need support to develop the knowledge and skills to manage their health care and become partners in their own health.”