Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide accounting for almost 60% of all deaths and 43% of the global burden of disease. By 2020, chronic disease is expected to contribute to 73% of all deaths and 60% of the global burden of disease. The most prominent chronic diseases—cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and type 2 diabetes—are linked by common and preventable biological risk factors (i.e., high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and obesity) as well as related major behavioral risk factors including unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use. Self-care that includes self-management is a fundamental concern for nursing and essential to the prevention and management of chronic diseases. In fact, leading agencies across the globe emphasize patients' self-management of chronic illness symptoms and treatment.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the multidimensional influences on self-care in chronic disease, uncover predictors of self-care and related outcomes, develop, and evaluate strategies that help people live with chronic illness and maintain or improve their quality of life. We are particularly interested in articles describing self-care strategies that increase support systems and improve the patient's and the family's understanding of the chronic illness as well as improve skills and self-efficacy in self-care and self-management and focus on coping with symptoms associated with chronic illness. In addition, articles that explore self-care and self-management in diverse populations including children and varied chronic diseases in order to expand our understanding of the complexities of self-care are encouraged. Potential topics include, but not limited to:

• Development and testing of novel and effective interventions to improve self-care in patients with chronic disease
• Identification and measurement of biomarkers/correlates of self-care in chronic diseases
• The influence of comorbid conditions on self-care in chronic disease
• Chronic disease and self-care in vulnerable groups including ethnic minorities, children, women, and global populations
• Use of multidisciplinary approaches including clinical practice strategies to improve self-care
• Discussion of novel research methodologies
• Addressing the continuum of chronic disease from prevention to palliative care

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/nrp/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/nrp/selfc/ according to the following timetable: