Self-management of Non-communicable Disease Patients: Model of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise and represent a permanent chronic progressive pathophysiology of disease. Moreover, NCDs can deteriorate over the course of a disease, especially when the patients have poor control or engage in risky behaviors. The COVID-19 outbreak has had an impact on everyone’s daily lives including NCD patients. The patients have limitations not only related to engaging in healthy behavior practices, but also with access to routine health care services, especially those at the hospital. Over time, people living with NCDs have developed their self-management skills to monitor their symptoms and control their complications to improve their quality of life. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, NCD patients may have had to develop their self-management skills through natural, trial and error efforts because it was not possible for them to seek any available support and assistance at that time. This academic article aims to reflect on, recognize, and promote the vital role played by self-management skills during the COVID-19 situation among NCD patients. On the other hand, they also explore the challenges to developing and engaging in self-management practices during this difficult period, although they were desperately needed in order to help NCDs patients to manage their own health care effectively and sustainably.