title: Lay care in illness.
abstract: This paper discusses lay care in illness with special reference to research and development in Northern Europe. The discussion concentrates on two components of lay care: individual self-care in illness and self-help groups. Individual self-care in illness is shaped in social environments, and in turn is a major determinant of the type and amount of health care services used. Self-help groups of all kinds have increased in recent years. Groups 'next' to the system and groups opposed to the system increased rapidly during the seventies. A form of self-help group that interfaces more directly with services is now being encouraged by physicians. Major issues concerned with these developments are considered.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012648:Self Care; D012651:Self Medication; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012803:Sick Role; D012936:Social Medicine / Q000639:trends*