One of the advantages of self-care education is its direct impact on individuals with underlying health conditions. A 2007 study expresses the idea of implementing self-care in general practice in the UK’s health care system. They indicate that self-care plays a great responsibility in the quality of life and health conditions experienced by individuals; such areas that are affected by self-care include “physical health, mental health, being aware of symptoms and illnesses, and social interactions.” (Greaves, Colin, Campbell). Individuals can experience several health benefits even with the most general form of the treatment; for instance, “better self-monitoring and disease control, reduced symptoms, improved psychosocial outcomes (including patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life, and self-efficacy), and reduced healthcare use.” During a time of a global pandemic, leaving the house and a lack of social distancing is major concern for being exposed to the disease; and hospitals are no different but rather is a location with a higher risk. By treating health conditions with self-care, individuals can reduce and avoid the usage of their healthcare and find alternative solutions that do not require professional medical assistance. Not only will self-care help the affected individuals, but this can contribute to a decline in hospitalization rates, thus reducing the risk of disease exposure.
Another way that self-care is more advantageous that the typical standard care is its cost-effectiveness. In a study conducted at Emory University, researchers attempted to analyze the effectiveness and economic impacts of self-care programs on individuals with heart failure and diabetes. The strategy was to track the number hospitalization days and the associated costs of everyone in the study between self and standard care (Reilly et al.). Observing over a hundred individuals in a six-month period, the study concluded a strong correlation between the two types of care. Individuals who participated in the self-care program spent less time in the hospital and money compared to those who received standard care, differing approximately $7647 per individual during the time of the study (Reilly et al.). In addition to a smaller spending, the study indicated a slight improvement among individuals with heart failure and diabetes, as their quality of adjusted life years (QALYs) either remained the same or increased. Understanding that hospitals are filled with COVID-19 patients, the practice of self-care is highly recommended in these situations. By implementing self-care on individuals with health conditions, individuals can experience health improvements while spending less time and money in hospitals. In addition to the direct impact on medically condition individuals, this can indirectly impact health care professionals, by reducing the number of hospitalized patients which can overall help reduce the number of infections.
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