Table 3

Summary of key aspects of self-management support.

Principles
People self-manage most of the time Enable them to do it well
Support patient autonomy Act as a partner, be person-centred, avoid strong clinician control
Help patients develop self-efficacy Provide and reinforce positive experiences
It is not only about back pain Helping people to manage their pain in daily life supports their ability to maintain good physical and mental health
Working with self-management requires the right setting Trained clinicians, time for dialogue, and room for confidentiality are pre-requisites for self-management support

Clinical actions
Let patient value-based goals guide management Focus on patient valued goals and shared decision making rather than on pain and dysfunction
Help patients make sense of their symptoms Educate people about pain and pain behaviour and help them reframe negative perspectives
Teach skills to solve everyday problems Give patients insights to help them overcome obstacles in everyday life
Provide tools for pain management Focus on proactive pain behaviour techniques
Evaluate patient valued goals, action plans, and patients’ understanding of back pain Move focus away from defining success as curing pain forever