Self Care for Common Conditions

The Self Care Forum aims to further the reach of self care and embed it into everyday life. Self Care is the actions that individuals take for themselves, on behalf of and with others in order to develop, protect, maintain and improve their health, wellbeing or wellness.

Fact Sheets

What are the Fact Sheets for?
The Self Care Forum Fact Sheets for common ailments aim to help clinicians and patients discuss issues around self care within the practice consultation and especially how to handle the symptoms in the future. They provide patients with information around:

• Useful facts
• What patients can expect to happen (the natural history)
• What people can do to help themselves – now and in the future
• When to seek medical help (the ‘red flags’)
• Where to find out more

Download the fact sheets below:

1. Low Back Pain

2. Eczema

3. Heartburn and indigestion

4. Fever in children

5. Constipation

6. Headache and migraine

7. Coughs

8. Acne

9. Sprains and strains

10. Sore throat

11. Otitis media

12. Common cold

13. Sinusitis

14. Urine symptoms in men

How were the Fact Sheets developed?
They were produced by the Self Care Forum Board. We used the following resources for developing the fact sheets:

• Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
• Guidelines from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
• Publications produced by the UK Royal Colleges and major charities
• Selected major peer reviewed scientific articles
• NHS Website
• NHS Direct
• Patient UK