Forces and issues in the revival of interest in self-care: impetus for redirection in health.

Most health and medical care is provided by families and individuals to themselves. Self-care has become a salient public issue because of the emergence of chronic diseases as leading causes of death and disability; a new awareness of the limitations of conventional medical care; and social changes which emphasize greater personal control. Challenges arise in definition of professional roles in relation to organized self-care efforts, economic implications, and development of appropriate social policies. A negative potential exists for exploitation by interests which would limit movements for more equitable and higher quality health services, but should not obscure the positive potential for a strengthened partnership in health between the lay and professional worlds.