OBJECTIVE: To determine if self-management programs, supported by a health professional, in rehabilitation are cost-effective. DATA SOURCES: Six databases were searched to December 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised controlled trials with adults completing a supported self-management program while participating in rehabilitation, or receiving health professional input, in the hospital or community settings, were included. Self-management programs were completed outside of structured, supervised therapy and health professional sessions. Included trials had a cost measure and an effectiveness outcome reported, such as health-related quality of life or function. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to determine the certainty of evidence across trials included in each meta-analysis. Incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICERS) were calculated based on the mean difference from the meta-analyses of contributing healthcare costs and quality of life. DATA EXTRACTION: Following application of the search strategy, two independent reviewers determined eligibility of identified literature, initially by reviewing the title and/or abstract prior to full text review. Using a customised form, data was extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer. DATA SYNTHESIS: Forty-three trials were included and 27 had data included in meta-analyses. Where self-management was a primary intervention there was moderate certainty of a meaningful positive difference in quality of life utility index, of 0.03 units (95% CI 0.01 to 0.06). The cost difference between self-management as the primary intervention and usual care (comprising usual intervention/therapy, minimal intervention (including education only), or no intervention), potentially favoured the comparison group (MD $AUD90, 95% CI -$AUD130 to $AUD310). The cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained for self-management programs as a stand-alone intervention was $AUD3,000, below the acceptable willingness-to-pay threshold in Australia per QALY gained ($50,000/QALY gained). CONCLUSIONS: Self-management as an intervention is low cost and could improve health-related quality of life.

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