The effectiveness of self-management intervention on quality of life and health outcomes in patients with non-communicable diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current empirical evidence (2019–2024)

Background Self-management empowers non-communicable disease (NCDs) patients to improve health, enhance quality of life (QoL), and reduce adverse outcomes. This study aims to synthesize empirical evidence on the effectiveness of self-management interventions in improving QoL and health outcomes among patients with NCDs. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and OVID databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2019 and 2024. Studies were included if they evaluated the impact of self-management interventions on QoL among adults with NCDs using randomized controlled trials or experimental designs. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled standardized mean differences using Hedges’ g. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments were also conducted. Results Eleven studies involving 1,591 participants were included in the systematic review, and 10 studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis demonstrated that self-management interventions significantly improved QoL compared with standard care (Hedges’ g = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.34–0.81). Moderate-to-substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I² = 69.3%). Subgroup analysis indicated that intervention effects varied by country income level, with larger effect sizes observed in upper-middle-income countries. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings. Funnel plot inspection and Egger’s test indicated no statistically significant evidence of publication bias. Conclusion Self-management interventions are associated with significant improvements in QoL among individuals with NCDs. These findings highlight the importance of integrating structured self-management programs into chronic disease care. Given the observed heterogeneity across studies, future research should focus on standardized intervention components, rigorous study designs, and evaluation across diverse healthcare settings to better understand the long-term effectiveness of self-management strategies. Trial registration Not applicable.