Community matrons: promoting self management (part four).

This is the fourth of six articles which draw on the content of a series of masterclasses organised and funded by the Department of Health for community matrons during summer 2006. It draws on input to the community matrons masterclasses from Keith Strahan and Alf Collins. It opens by reviewing the concepts of self care and self management. The significance of understnading patients' and their carers' health beliefs in person-centred care planning is then highlighted. The importance of capitalising on readiness to change the role of motivational interviewing in successful behaviour change is then presented. Finally, the consequent issues for professionals and services in terms of managing risk are discussed.