Evaluation of a community rehabilitation service for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of a community rehabilitation service for people with rheumatoid arthritis, provided by the Community Rehabilitation Network (CRN) in Hong Kong. The three-phase community rehabilitation service consists of a number of standardized program elements, including orientation meeting, self-help course, stress management program, water exercises class, as well as informal social and recreational activities. Using a pre-, post-test non-equivalent groups design, the outcomes of 29 clients of the treatment group were compared with 16 clients of the comparison group at baseline and at the end of 9 months, using an 86-item self-completed questionnaire. The treatment group achieved significant more increases in self-efficacy of managing the illness, more increases in self-management behaviors, but no significant increases in the overall health status or health care utilization patterns, when compared with the comparison group.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. rsandsiu@polyu.edu.hk
Andrew M H
AM
Siu
Dominic Y Y
DY
Chui
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires