Patient self-management (PSM)

Patient self-management is a healthcare framework and behavioral process in which individuals with chronic conditions take an active role in managing their illness, symptoms, and overall well-being. It encompasses a range of activities including medication adherence, symptom monitoring, lifestyle modifications (such as diet and exercise), and managing the emotional impact of the disease. While the term is frequently used in clinical trials and health outcomes research, it does not refer to a biological molecule, receptor, or enzyme that can be targeted by pharmacological agents in the traditional sense. Instead, it is a multifaceted therapeutic strategy intended to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare utilization. In the context of drug development, self-management is often an endpoint or a confounding variable in the assessment of a drug's efficacy, particularly for medications requiring complex dosing regimens or lifestyle integration.

Other names

Self-careSelf-management supportPatient empowermentChronic disease self-management

Not applicable. Patient self-management is a behavioral and clinical intervention strategy rather than a biochemical mechanism of action involving a drug and a molecular target.