Table 2 Summary of key characteristics of included reviews (n = 25) and their primary studies (n = 452)

Types of participants

 Patients

23 (92%)

 Clinicians

9 (36%)

 Family members/caregivers

4 (16%)

 Other^a

5 (20%)

Data types in included reviews

 Qualitative

24 (96%)

 Quantitative

8 (32%)

 Mixed Methods

13 (52%)

 Not reported

1 (4%)

Health condition type

 Cardiovascular

4 (16%)

 Diabetes

6 (24%)

 Mental Health

2 (8%)

 Musculoskeletal

4 (16%)

 Neurological

2 (8%)

 Renal

1 (4%)

 Respiratory

1 (4%)

 Mixed chronic conditions

5 (20%)

Intervention type

 Nutrition

2 (8%)

 Physical

10 (40%)

 Psychological

3 (12%)

 Combined

4 (16%)

 Self-management

6 (24%)

Characteristics of primary studies (n = 452)

Count (%)

Participants

44,852

 Patients

36,367 (81%)

 Clinicians

8154 (18%)

 Family members/caregivers

66 (0.1%)

 Other^a

95 (0.2%)

 Count by type not specified

270 (1%)

 Not reported

3 studies

Regions

24 countries

 Africa

1 (0.2%)

 Asia

19 (4%)

 Europe

185 (41%)

 North America

129 (29%)

 South America

3 (1%)

 Oceania

43 (10%)

 Not reported

4 (1%)