The evolution of health care is shifting from a major focus on cure to an ever-expanding emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention, self-care, symptom management, and self-management of chronic illness. The terms self-care, symptom management, and self-management of chronic illness are often used interchangeably. Depending on the context, the reference may be to the person taking primary responsibility for health in an effort to reduce health care costs, encouraging the person to take increased responsibility for living a healthier life, or helping the person to learn management strategies related to chronic illness. The philosophical foundations and cultural understanding and expression of these terms vary. This chapter explores these variations as it begins the discussion of the meaning of self-care in relation to nursing practice and the development of nursing science.
