Do health care professionals recognise the specific role of self-care groups? Do experienced self-help groups play a formal role in providing support to health care professionals? What roles can organisations of persons with chronic conditions and organisations of persons with disabilities play in a multi-sectoral health team?
In the meeting held in Rome in December 2007, the group came to the following conclusions:
1. Persons with disabilities, persons with chronic conditions and/or family members can become experts in some aspects of self care. They can advice and support other persons and families dealing with disabilities or chronic conditions in their lives in ways that no other health professional can do. They know about living with their conditions, they understand specific challenges that persons and families face in ways that no other experts can ever understand.
2. For some issues persons with new disabilites or chronic conditions or families can relate to the group and ask opinions and questions in ways that are not possible in health care services.
3. Groups can be allies of health professionals and make the bridge between services and individuals and families for effective communication. Such groups should be part of all multi-sectoral teams dealing with the related disabilities or conditions.
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