Libby Whittaker, Author at Self-Care Forum

RCGP Prevention Report highlights lack of time for self-care advice

Libby Whittaker — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:49:15 +0000

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has highlighted the pressures facing general practice, with many GPs lacking the time needed to provide the healthy living advice that patients value and trust them to deliver.

In its new Prevention Report, the RCGP argues that greater investment in general practice is essential to strengthen prevention, reduce health inequalities, avoid hospital admissions and support a more sustainable NHS. This includes increased funding, greater workforce capacity and a stronger focus on prevention across the health system.

Our Living Self-Care Survey research highlights an additional challenge: health professionals perceive patients to be disengaged from self-care advice. Together, these findings point to a potential barrier to effective prevention.

Even where patients trust healthcare professionals, limited time can restrict opportunities to discuss and support self-care, while perceptions of patient disengagement may make these conversations more difficult to prioritise.

Addressing both challenges is essential to creating the time, opportunities and support people need to engage with self-care and take a more active role in better managing their health.

Click here to go to the RCGP Prevention Report >

Click here to go to the Living Self-Care Survey Research >

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Autumn – Time to Think about Vitamin D

Libby Whittaker — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:03:34 +0000

Blog by Professor Mary Hickson, Self-Care Forum Trustee

The nights are drawing in and the sun is sitting lower in the sky. At this time of year, sunlight in the UK is no longer strong enough to trigger vitamin D production in our skin. That means autumn is the ideal time to start taking a daily vitamin D supplement as a simple self-care action.

Vitamin D is Vital for our Health

Vitamin D is vital for healthy bones and teeth, good muscle function, and a strong immune system. Research shows that vitamin D levels naturally fall during the winter months and recover during spring and summer. While this seasonal pattern does not appear to cause problems for most people, maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may be more important for long-term health than previously recognised. This is why the UK Government recommends that adults consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (µg), or 400 international units (IU), of vitamin D between October and March.

If you don’t get enough vitamin D it can lead to bone pain, muscle weakness, increased risk of falls and eventually leads to osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children. Some groups are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. These include people who spend very little time outdoors, such as those who are housebound, living in care homes, working night shifts, or spending most of the day indoors. Risk is also higher in people with darker skin tones, those who cover most of their skin outdoors, adults aged over 65 years, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people living with obesity, and those who have experienced multiple fractures. These groups should consider taking a vitamin D supplement throughout the year.

Foods rich in Vitamin D are not Enough

Vitamin D is unusual because it is one of the few nutrients that can be difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts from food alone. A few foods contain it and then only small amounts; these include oily fish (like salmon, mackerel, sardines or trout), egg yolks, and fortified foods (some dairy products have vitamin D added, also margarine and breakfast cereals are commonly fortified). Although these foods contribute to vitamin D intake, they rarely provide enough on their own to meet requirements during winter. This is why a supplement is recommended for us all during the winter, when no one in this country (UK and other northern European countries) can make enough vitamin D in their skin.

Self-Care Doesn’t have to be Complicated

Taking a vitamin D supplement is an example of an easy self-care action for most people. It is low cost, can be easily built into a daily routine (taking with breakfast or another meal), and takes only seconds to do each day. If stopping and starting in the spring and autumn interrupts a routine action, it doesn’t matter if you decide to take it all year. It is totally safe at the recommended dose; the only disadvantage is the small additional cost of continuing supplementation during the summer months.

Self-care does not always have to involve major lifestyle changes or complicated routines. Sometimes small, evidence-based actions can make a meaningful contribution to health. Taking vitamin D is one such action, helping to support healthy bones, muscles and immune function.

Choosing a vitamin D supplement can feel confusing given the wide range of products available. Look for one providing 10 micrograms (400IU) daily. Products labelled “Ultra”, “High Strength” or “Maximum Strength” are usually unnecessary for routine supplementation. More is not always better, especially when talking about vitamin supplements. You can take too much, so always follow label instructions and avoid taking excess doses. You should check any other supplements you are taking to see if they contain vitamin D too. Many multivitamins and cod liver oil include it, making a separate supplement unnecessary. Some people with a diagnosed deficiency or certain medical conditions may need higher doses but only under the guidance of a health care professional. Follow individualised advice from your healthcare provider.

Vitamin D2 and D3

Another source of confusion is the difference between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Most supplements contain vitamin D3, which may be slightly more effective at raising vitamin D levels. However, vitamin D2 is a suitable alternative for people following a vegan diet and can still help maintain adequate vitamin D status when taken regularly.

Myths around Vitamin D

There are many myths around nutrition and vitamin D is no exception. You might think

“I eat healthily so I don’t need a supplement.” – Even a healthy balanced diet may not provide enough vitamin D, it is also about exposure of skin to sunlight.
“I sit by a sunny window.” – Vitamin D production requires direct sunlight on the skin outdoors. The wavelengths needed are filtered out by glass.
“I feel well so my level must be fine.” – Vitamin D deficiency often develops gradually and may not cause obvious symptoms.

As autumn approaches and daylight hours shorten, taking a daily 10 microgram (400 IU) vitamin D supplement is one of the simplest and most effective self-care actions adults can take. Starting now can help maintain healthy vitamin D levels throughout the months when the UK sun is unable to provide enough

Self-Care Forum’s self-care fact sheets are perfect resources to help empower people to understand when and how to take care of their self-treatable conditions.

For the Self-Care Aware Fact Sheet for Vitamin D click here >

Information Sources

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Research suggests self-care is common but not equally accessible

Libby Whittaker — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:29:40 +0000

A second paper with results from our Living Self-Care Survey Study – joint research by the Self-Care Forum and Imperial College London’s SCARU – has been published in BMJ Open.

The paper asks “What are the demographic predictors and barriers to self-care engagement in the UK?”

Its key takeaway is: if self-care is to support a sustainable health and care system, the UK must invest in targeted, culturally competent, accessible self-care support – strengthening health literacy, expanding pharmacy-led guidance and improving access to trustworthy digital resources.

The findings show that while self-care is widespread, it is not equally accessible. Structural barriers – especially financial pressures (53%) and lack of time (47%) – prevent many people from staying healthy or managing common conditions effectively. Pharmacists remain dramatically underused, with only 1.3% of people consulting them for common symptoms, and engagement with digital health information is strikingly low, with fewer than 10% seeking online guidance during symptom episodes.

The UK-wide survey of 3,255 adults found that most people self manage everyday symptoms, usually with OTC medicines or by waiting for symptoms to resolve, while GP consultations (2.1%) and pharmacist use remain minimal. But confidence and access vary sharply. Older adults report the highest self-care confidence, while men, Asian British respondents and people living with disabilities or long term conditions consistently report lower confidence and lower information seeking.

BMJ Open | What are the demographic predictors and barriers to self-care engagement in the UK? a cross-sectional survey study >

Further research from the Living Self-Care Survey Study >

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The Power of Public Health Campaigns

Libby Whittaker — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:03:07 +0000

By Libby Whittaker, Self-Care Forum Manager

Public health campaigns have shaped the UK for nearly two centuries. Their power lies in their ability to change behaviour, shift culture and drive policy – a formula proven from Victorian sanitation reforms to modern NHS messaging.

Early Public Health Campaigns

Local and national authorities have issued public health advice as early as the medieval period, especially during epidemics such as plague. But one of the first recognisable public health campaigns emerged in the mid-1800s, led by activists in the “Health of Towns Association.” Through public meetings, lectures and publications they raised awareness of the health consequences of unsanitary conditions in Victorian Britain. Their efforts contributed directly to the Public Health Act of 1848 after which public health messaging became more structured. Local authorities began issuing regular advice focused on sanitation, infections disease control and vaccination.

Evolution of Public Health Campaigns

Since then, public health campaigns have evolved from simple warnings to more sophisticated behavioural change programmes shaped by our growing understanding of how to reach people effectively.

Campaigns such as the 1986 “AIDS: Don’t die of Ignorance” set the template for modern public health communications. The “5 A Day” campaign in 2002 influenced school food standards, supermarket labelling and public discourse around healthy eating. The 2007 “Smokefree” campaign supported smoke-free legislation and contributed to long-term declines in smoking prevalence.

More recently, COVID-19 represented the largest public health mobilisation in UK history. Multi-channel messaging across TV, radio, digital platforms and community networks it used behavioural insights to achieve one of the fastest mass vaccination rollouts globally. It demonstrated the power of consistent, repeated messaging.

Recipe for success

Across history, the recipe for a successful public health campaign has remained remarkably stable: deliver clear scientific messages through compelling media, build strategic alliances, shift cultural norms, seize political opportunity, define a clear problem and repeat simple actions consistently across trusted messengers.

Consistency matters. The Self-Care Forum’s recent joint research with Imperial College London’s SCARU (the Living Self-Care Survey Study) found that respondents did not remember NHS guidance on important public health information such as exercise recommendations or alcohol limits. This applies not only to the public but also to health professionals.

A drip feed of messages is essential to ensure they are noticed, remembered and acted upon.

National Self-Care Week (16 – 22 November)

National Self‑Care Week provides the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of self‑care and support people’s health literacy. Everyone working in health and public health can get involved as part of their aim to help people help themselves. It doesn’t have to be complicated — simple actions such as putting up posters, sharing social media posts, drafting blogs, or organising a coffee morning or walking event can make a meaningful difference.

Messages must be easy, timely, relevant and socially normal

But there is an important distinction, awareness is not the same as action. People can know what they should do and still not do it. Successful campaigns therefore need to think beyond the message itself, making the desired behaviour easy, timely, relevant and socially normal.

Baring this in mind, Self‑Care Week and other organised awareness‑raising events have the potential to be incredibly impactful especially when multiple organisations and individuals push the same self‑care message.

The Self‑Care Forum hopes that many health and public health organisations and individuals will take up the mantle for National Self‑Care Week and help shape behavioural change.

Tips for targeted self-care campaigns

Keep messages simple and active “Got a sore throat? Use the Self-Care Forum’s fact sheets for trusted health information.”
Use trusted local messengers Practice nurses, community pharmacists, link workers, and public health teams carry credibility.
Ensure messages are reassuring, not dismissive “Self-care is safe for most common conditions.” “Here’s where to go for help.”
Partner across sectors to increase local impact Community pharmacies and surgeries, schools and community centres, local authorities and local businesses.
Give people tools and resources Self-Care Forum fact sheets, daily tips, videos, books, and symptom timelines.
The real measure of a campaign is not how many people saw it, but what they subsequently did.

When health and public health professionals work together – across GP practices, pharmacies, councils, schools, and community organisations – campaigns become movements. They help people feel confident, capable, and informed. They turn knowledge into action. And they make self‑care not just an individual choice, but a shared social norm.

Conclusion

As we look ahead, the question is not whether public health campaigns work, history shows they do. The challenge is ensuring we design them with the behavioural intelligence, partnership working, and cultural awareness needed to meet today’s pressures. When we do, campaigns like Self‑Care Week can become powerful catalysts for healthier communities, stronger systems, and a more resilient public.

For more information about National Self-Care Week click here >

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Loneliness: Why self-care is something we do together

Libby Whittaker — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:48:13 +0000

Blog by Dr Austen El-Osta, Self-Care Forum Trustee

When we think about self-care, we often picture healthy eating, exercise, good sleep or taking medicines appropriately. These are all important, but there is another aspect of health that is just as fundamental and often overlooked: our social connections.

Loneliness is a normal human experience. Most of us will feel lonely at some point in our lives, whether following bereavement, retirement, illness, moving home, relationship breakdown or simply during periods of transition. Feeling lonely from time to time is not unusual. However, when loneliness becomes persistent, it can have profound effects on both physical and mental health.

Research over the past decade has consistently shown that prolonged loneliness is associated with poorer wellbeing, increased anxiety and depression, lower quality of life and a greater risk of developing long-term health conditions. It can also influence how people engage with healthcare, reducing confidence in managing their own health and making it harder to adopt healthy behaviours.

This is why loneliness should not be viewed solely as a social issue. It is also a public health issue and an important consideration for anyone interested in self-care.

Good self-care depends on more than knowledge or motivation. It is influenced by the environment in which we live, the resources available to us, and the people around us. Family, friends, neighbours, community groups, voluntary organisations and healthcare professionals all play an important role in creating the conditions that enable people to look after their health.

What the evidence shows

Earlier this year, we published initial findings from the Measuring Loneliness in the UK (INTERACT) study, which is the largest global study on loneliness to date. More than 230,000 people took part, providing valuable insights into how loneliness affects people across different ages and circumstances. While the findings confirmed that loneliness remains a significant challenge, they also highlighted something encouraging: social connectedness and strong community relationships are closely associated with better wellbeing and greater resilience. Emerging evidence from the INTERACT study also suggests that loneliness is not experienced uniformly throughout the day since reports of loneliness were lowest in the morning and highest in the late afternoon and evening, highlighting the importance of ensuring that support and opportunities for social connection are available when people may need them most.

Self-care is stronger together

The good news is that there are many practical ways we can protect ourselves and others from the harmful effects of loneliness. The first is recognising that staying socially connected is an important part of maintaining good health. Just as we schedule time for physical activity, we should also make time to maintain relationships with family, friends and neighbours. Even small, regular interactions can make a meaningful difference. Secondly, participating in local activities can help build a stronger sense of belonging. Volunteering, joining community groups, attending exercise classes, participating in hobby clubs or simply visiting a local library or community café all provide opportunities to develop new social connections.

Technology can also help. Video calls, online communities and messaging platforms enable people to stay connected when distance, mobility or caring responsibilities make face-to-face contact difficult. Digital tools are not a replacement for human interaction, but they can provide valuable support, particularly when used alongside in-person relationships.

Healthcare professionals increasingly recognise the importance of social wellbeing. Through social prescribing, many people are now being connected with community activities, exercise groups, welfare advice, arts programmes and voluntary organisations that address the wider factors influencing health. These approaches recognise that improving health often requires more than medical treatment alone.

There is also something each of us can do for others. A phone call, an invitation for coffee, checking in on an older neighbour or simply taking the time for a conversation can have a lasting impact. Acts of kindness strengthen not only the wellbeing of those receiving them but also our own sense of purpose and connection.

The future is brighter when we get there together

As our population ages and more people live with long-term conditions, supporting social wellbeing will become increasingly important. Building healthier communities is not only about improving access to healthcare services; it is also about creating opportunities for people to remain connected, engaged and supported throughout their lives.

Self-care has always been about empowering people to take greater control of their health and wellbeing. But perhaps one of the most important lessons is that self-care is rarely something we do entirely by ourselves. The strongest foundations for good health are often built through our relationships with others. Looking after our social wellbeing may be one of the most valuable investments we can make for ourselves and for the health of our families, our communities and society as a whole.

Dr Austen El-Osta, Director, Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), Imperial College London

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International Self‑Care Day: A 24/7 Commitment to Better Health

Libby Whittaker — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:25:46 +0000

24 July marks International Self‑Care Day — a reminder that self‑care matters every hour of every day. But our BMJ Open research shows self‑care isn’t just an individual responsibility; it’s a system‑wide duty that must be embedded into policy, professional practice and everyday conversations.

What is happening in the UK?

Our Living Self‑Care Survey Study shows strong willingness but weak support:

88.5% feel confident maintaining a healthy lifestyle
91.9% feel confident managing common illnesses
Yet 51.4% struggle to evaluate treatment options
43.6% find mental health information hard to access
28.1% find it difficult to interpret screening information

“These findings show people want to self‑care but are not fully supported to do so,” says Dr Pete Smith, Self‑Care Forum President and lead author of the study. “Health literacy remains one of the biggest barriers — and one we must urgently address.”

Healthcare professionals echo this gap, citing patient reluctance (64.8%), poor understanding of self‑care (59.0%) and health literacy challenges (45.8%).

Click here to access the Living Self-Care Survey Study including the BMJ Open paper >

Nutrition for Wellbeing 24/7

Healthy eating is this year’s theme for International Self‑Care Day. And while our research shows people feel confident maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many struggle to interpret screening information. This means that when health information — including nutrition guidance — becomes more technical or complex, people can find it harder to navigate and act on.

“Good nutrition is one of the most powerful ways people can support their own health,” says Helen Donovan, Chair of the Self‑Care Forum. “But they need clear, consistent information to feel confident doing so.”

Behaviour Change Matters

Trevor Gore, Self‑Care Forum Trustee and behavioural science expert, points out that turning intention into action requires supportive environments, not just advice.

“As a nation, we’re not short on motivation — we’re short on the right conditions for behaviour change,” he says. “If we want people to make healthier choices, we must make those choices easier, clearer and more accessible in everyday life. We must reduce the friction that stops people being able to self‑care.”

A Self-Care Forum Resource to Help

Our POWER of Self‑Care framework supports people to:

Prevent illness
Observe changes
Work with professionals
Engage with reliable information
Respond to symptoms

Click here to access the Self-Care Forum Fact Sheets >

It directly addresses the gaps highlighted in our research — especially the need for clearer information and stronger professional encouragement.

A Call to Action

The UK public is ready to self‑care. They just need better support.

On 24 July, we call on professionals, policymakers and community organisations to:

Strengthen public confidence
Improve access to reliable health information
Embed self‑care into everyday practice

Self‑care is a 24/7 commitment to better health.

International Self-Care Day (ISD) was established by the International Self-Care Foundation (ISF) in 2011 to raise awareness about the benefits of self-care globally. The ISF produced the 7 Pillars of Self-Care as a way to illustrate the different elements of self-care.

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Should self-care be a routine part of primary care?

Libby Whittaker — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:15:56 +0000

Self‑care is already a powerful force in the UK — but the health system has yet to catch up says Self-Care Forum President, Dr Pete Smith writing in the Healthcare Leader.

The Self-Care Forum’s recent UK‑wide study – the Living Self-Care Survey Study – shows that nearly nine in ten adults feel confident maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and over 90% believe they can manage common illnesses independently. Yet many healthcare professionals still perceive patients as reluctant or poorly informed, creating a mismatch that limits progress and undermines one of the few scalable solutions to rising demand in primary care. This contradiction lies at the heart of the problem.

This disconnect is fuelled by differing definitions of self‑care, gaps in health literacy, and structural barriers such as time‑pressured consultations and inconsistent messaging. The public is willing and ready; the system is not yet designed to support them.

Embedding self‑care into routine primary care — supported by clear information, stronger partnerships, and multidisciplinary teams — would help people make informed decisions, reduce pressure on services, and improve outcomes across the NHS. The public has already moved. Policy, practice, and professional culture must now follow.

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Click here to go to the full article on Healthcare Leader >

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Building better self-care systems globally

Libby Whittaker — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:51:45 +0000

“No plan survives first contact with the people we’re trying to help… what’s needed is something that is locally driven,” says Dr Peter Smith OBE, president of the Self‑Care Forum.

His point sits at the heart of a new report by the Economist Enterprise – Making self-care work: integrating self-care into health systems – a report supported by Bayer.

The report shows that while self‑care can widen access, improve outcomes and ease pressure on overstretched health systems, countries struggle to integrate it because responsibilities are unclear, safeguards vary and support is uneven.

Dr Smith’s emphasis on localisation reflects the report’s finding that self‑care only works when it is shaped around real communities, their cultures, their levels of trust and the practical realities of how people navigate health.

The report argues that successful self‑care requires clear governance, equitable financing, reliable information and referral pathways that connect people back to formal care when needed. Our president’s emphasis on localisation strengthens this message: national commitments alone are not enough. Self‑care must be adapted to local settings, supported by trusted messengers and designed to reduce—not widen—inequities.

Click here for “Making self-care work: integrating self-care into health systems” Economist Enterprise Report >

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A note to our international visitors

Libby Whittaker — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:07:04 +0000

The Self-Care Forum is a UK-based charity, but we are delighted that our site is visited regularly by so many people from around the world. We would like to make sure that our website delivers best value to all our friends.

If you are visiting from outside the UK, please share your thoughts with us on you and your local priorities. Get in touch with us via email: selfcare@selfcareforum.org.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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Mind the Gap: Unlocking the Potential of Public Engagement in Self‑Care

Libby Whittaker — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:51:41 +0000

Blog by Dr Pete Smith OBE, Self-Care Forum President

Public interest in health, wellbeing, and self-care has expanded dramatically in recent years. Online references to self-care topics have surged—from roughly 300 million in 2017 to over 6 billion by 2023—reflecting a growing willingness among individuals to invest time, effort, and resources in improving their health and ‘wellness’. This widespread engagement should create ideal conditions for delivering the ambitions of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, particularly its emphasis on prevention.

Despite this, many healthcare professionals remain cautious about the rise of self-care.

Different perspectives

Recent research conducted by the Self-Care Forum[i][ii]in collaboration with Imperial College London’s Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU) surveyed more than 3,000 UK adults, including clinicians. The findings indicate that self-care is both widely recognised and actively practiced by the public. Individuals increasingly take responsibility for managing their own health: 88% report handling common symptoms themselves, while only a very small minority (2%) consult a GP. Similarly, the use of over-the-counter treatments for common symptoms has more than doubled (from 22% to 46%) over the past decade.

However, the same study highlights a contrasting professional viewpoint. Around two-thirds of healthcare professionals identified lack of public engagement, limited understanding, and reluctance to take responsibility as the main obstacles to effective self-care.

If preventative healthcare is to become a reality, this disconnect must be addressed. Failure to do so risks wasting the momentum generated by an engaged public—and may leave individuals more vulnerable to unreliable information online.

Understanding the roots of the gap

Different interpretations of self-care

A key issue lies in how self-care is defined. Members of the public typically view it in broad terms, encompassing lifestyle choices, wellbeing, and everyday health decisions, as illustrated in the Self-Care Forum’s Self-Care Continuum[iii]. By contrast, many professionals adopt a narrower, clinical definition that centres on “supported self-care,” where patients act under guidance to manage or prevent specific conditions.

In practice, self-care spans a continuum—from daily behaviours that promote wellbeing, to prevention strategies, to managing both acute and chronic conditions. When professional discourse focuses mainly on supported approaches, it can overshadow the importance of independent self-management. Ideally, healthcare advice should complement and reinforce an individuals’ own actions, rather than replace them.

Concerns about information quality and quantity

Another factor contributing to scepticism is the vast and variable quality of health information available online. While the sheer volume of content highlights strong public interest, it also raises valid concerns about accuracy and reliability.

Both patients and clinicians have expressed unease about this. Patients may struggle to judge credibility, while professionals worry about misinformation, longer consultations, and challenges to their expertise. The so-called “heartbeat moment”—when clinicians are presented with unfamiliar online information during an appointment—illustrates these tensions clearly[iv][v].

Although these concerns are justified, disengaging from the issue is unlikely to be effective.

Bridging the divide

Addressing the gap requires meeting people where they are—recognising their existing engagement and supporting it with clear, trustworthy guidance. This includes helping individuals understand what constitutes normal symptoms, when professional input is needed, and where to find reliable advice, while also acknowledging that many situations can be managed independently.

Many healthcare professionals are already adopting more constructive approaches, including:

Recognising the full scope of self-care
Embracing a broader understanding that includes wellbeing, lifestyle, and prevention, not just clinical management.
Working in partnership with informed patients
Viewing patients’ online research as a starting point for discussion rather than a challenge, and using it to build shared understanding.
Being open about uncertainty
Acknowledging limits to one’s own knowledge and valuing patients’ efforts to engage with their health.
Signposting trustworthy resources
Directing patients to credible UK sources such as NHS.uk, Patient.info, and organisations accredited with quality marks like the PIF TICK[vi].
Using shared reference materials
Providing accessible information, such as Self-Care Forum fact sheets[vii], that align professional advice with public understanding.
Improving resilience to misinformation
Encouraging use of tools and guidance designed to help individuals identify and avoid unreliable health information such as the NHS’s Misinformation UnMASKED[viii].

Importantly, this is not solely the role of GPs; the wider primary care team, including social prescribers, can play a key role in guiding people to appropriate resources.

Conclusion

There is clear evidence of a mismatch between how self-care is perceived by the public and by healthcare professionals. This divide has important implications for the success of prevention-focused healthcare strategies.

Yet the foundations for closing this gap are already in place. By adapting professional attitudes and building on public enthusiasm, it is possible to create a more aligned, collaborative approach to self-care—one that delivers substantial benefits without requiring major new resources.

Click here for “What is the interplay between self-care confidence, professional support and health literacy among UK adults? A cross-sectional online survey study” BMJ Open Paper

References

[i] Smith P, Altalib S, Al Ammouri M, et al

What is the interplay between self-care confidence, professional support and health literacy among UK adults? A cross-sectional online survey study

BMJ Open 2026;16:e110378. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110378

[ii] El-Osta A, Altalib S, Al Ammouri M, Smith P Understanding Demographic Disparities and Personal Barriers to Self-Care in the UK: Findings from the Living Self-Care Survey Study

medRxiv 2025.06.01.25328757; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.01.25328757

[iii] What is self-care and why is it good for people and the NHS? – Self-Care Forum

[iv] Ahluwalia S, Murray E, Stevenson F, Kerr C, Burns J. ‘A heartbeat moment’: qualitative study of GP views of patients bringing health information from the internet to a consultation. Br J Gen Pract. 2010 Feb;60(571):88-94. doi: 10.3399/bjgp10X483120. PMID: 20132702; PMCID: PMC2814261.

[v] The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. 2015. Dealing with self-diagnosing patients | MDDUS

[vi] PIF TICK Certification | Patient Information Forum

[vii] Fact Sheets – Self-Care Forum

[viii] Misinformation-UnMASKED-checklist.pdf

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