For consumers
(1300 633 424)
Mon-Fri | 9am-5pm AEST
Your call will be answered by healthdirect Australia
For health professionals
Find out the active ingredient and other brand names of your medicines with the NPS Medicine Name Finder
For a medicinewise Australia
Independent. Not-for-profit. Evidence based.
Site Tools
Quick Links
Self-management of chronic illnessSelf-management of chronic illness
Back to Winter 2007 contents
The National Prescribing Service has recently formed a partnership with Arthritis NSW to develop and evaluate a self-management session on the quality use of medicines. The session focuses on the principles of
- selecting your medicines wisely
- choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary
- using your medicines safely and effectively.
You may ask, 'What is self-management?' Well, there are a few definitions, and here is one of them.
'Self-management relates to the tasks that an individual must undertake to live well with one or more chronic conditions. These tasks include gaining confidence to deal with medical management, role management and emotional management.'1
Why is this self-management session needed? Firstly, Arthritis NSW is currently developing 'Moving On', a weekly, seven-week, self-management course for people with a chronic illness. One of the course sessions is 'Getting the most out of your medicines'.
Secondly, people with a chronic illness are often prescribed multiple medicines, which can be very confusing and lead to medicine mishaps. One way the National Prescribing Service and Arthritis NSW can help such people manage their medicines is to give them the information and skills they need to make medicine decisions that are right for them.
Chronic diseases have the potential to affect almost every aspect of a person's life. 'Moving On' gives people with a chronic illness the opportunity to develop and use self-management skills and make lifestyle choices that help prevent the progression of their disease, and improve their quality of life.
The self-management course 'Moving On', along with its quality use of medicines 'Getting the most out of your medicines' session, will be trialled and evaluated by the University of New South Wales later this year.
More information
For more information about the 'Moving On' self-management course, contact Arthritis NSW at info@arthritisnsw.org.au
References
- International Conference on Patient Self-management held in Canada, 2005
MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter for consumers written by consumers about using medicines wisely. Subscribe to the hard copy version using our online ordering system, or write to MedicinesTalk, National Prescribing Service Limited, PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.
Date published: 2007-06-01 00:00:01
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
