title: Encouraging self-care within a primary health care framework.
abstract: This study was undertaken primarily to evaluate Do I Need to See the Doctor?, a book designed to assist young families to self-manage common health problems. In addition, the study sought to determine whether providing an introductory explanation to the book had an impact on the respondents' perceived usefulness of it. Comparisons of emergency room visits were made for the timeframe of the study and for the previous year. Study results support the book's usefulness in increasing respondents' confidence to make knowledgeable, informed self-care decisions. Providing explanations did not affect the book's usefulness. A link between emergency room visits and the book requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Cape Breton District Health Authority.
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Cyndee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacPhee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012648:Self Care