Self-management is part of chronic care to ensure an informed and activated patient. We scrutinised systematic literature reviews about self-care in general practice. There were effects on clinical and patient related measures and health services utilisation. Most effect was seen in interventions using health care professionals to provide education about action plans and medical treatment. Patient led education did not show effect on clinical outcome but on patient-related measures. We conclude that general practice should implement self-management as part of chronic care.