The extent and breadth of benefits from participating in chronic disease self-management courses: a national patient-reported outcomes survey.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the benefits that people receive from participating in self-management courses and identify subgroups that benefit most.


METHODS
People with a wide range of chronic conditions attending self-management courses (N = 1341 individuals) were administered the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ). Baseline and follow-up data were collected resulting in 842 complete responses. Outcomes were categorized as substantial improvement (effect size, ES > or = 0.5), minimal/no change (ES -0.49 to 0.49) and substantial decline (ES < or = -0.5).


RESULTS
On average, one third of participants reported substantial benefits at the end of a course and this ranged from 49% in the heiQ subscale Skill and technique acquisition to 27% in the heiQ subscale Health service navigation. Stratification by gender, age and education showed that younger participants were more likely to benefit, particularly young women. No further subgroup differences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
While the well-being of people with chronic diseases tends to decline, about one third of participants from a wide range of backgrounds show substantial improvements in a range of skills that enable them to self-manage.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the application of self-management courses indicating that they are a useful adjunct to usual care for a modest proportion of attendees.
Nolte
Sandra
S
AFV Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3050, Australia.
Elsworth
Gerald R
GR
Sinclair
Andrew J
AJ
Osborne
Richard H
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D019468:Disease Management; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires