A research study by Self Care Forum President, Dr Pete Smith and Trustee, Dr Austen El Osta sought to understand how self-reported professional attitudes, perceptions and practices of self care changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Respondents, made up of pharmacists, nurses, GPs, social prescribers and other health and social care professionals, said the importance of self care had increased markedly during the pandemic. Indeed, respondents who felt self care was extremely important to their service-users increased from 54 per cent to 86 per cent.

Reported barriers to self care were willingness of patients to engage (74 per cent) and poor understanding of self care (71 per cent) with digital exclusion also cited as a significant barrier (71 per cent).

And, whilst respondents believed the changes to be permanent and positive, there were concerns raised that this is dependent upon continued encouragement and empowerment of individuals to self care and on its inclusion in professional education as a substantive subject.