Self-management training for people with chronic disease: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a community-based Chronic Disease Self-management Course (CDC) for UK participants with a range of chronic diseases.


METHODS
The study was a multiple baseline, pre-test post test design with a sample of 185 participants who attended a CDC delivered in community settings by lay tutors, in the UK.


METHODS
Data were collected by self-completed questionnaires before attendance and at four-month follow-up.


RESULTS
The sample comprised 72% women (mean age = 53 years, mean disease duration = 16 years). The main chronic diseases included endometriosis, depression, diabetes, myalgic encephalomyelitis, osteoporosis and polio. Adjusting for baseline values and gender, small to moderate increases were found on cognitive symptom management, self-efficacy (disease and symptoms) and communication with physician. A similar sized decrease was found on fatigue, and small decreases were evident on anxious and depressed moods, and health distress. There were no changes in the use of health care resources, or on self-reported exercise behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this exploratory study suggest that self-management training for people with chronic diseases can offer benefits in terms of enhanced self-efficacy, greater use of cognitive behavioural techniques, and improvement in some aspects of physical and psychological well-being.
Wright
C C
CC
Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Health, School of Health and Social Sciences, Coventry University, UK.
Barlow
J H
JH
Turner
A P
AP
Bancroft
G V
GV
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D006113:United Kingdom