The United Kingdom Expert Patients Programme: results and implications from a national evaluation.
The Expert Patients Programme (EPP) is a central element of chronic disease management policy in the United Kingdom. It aims to deliver self-care support by developing peoples' self-care skills, confidence and motivation to take more effective control over their long-term conditions. A large, national randomised controlled trial found that the EPP's lay-led skills training was effective in improving self-efficacy and energy levels among patients with long-term conditions, and was likely to be cost-effective. Key questions remain as to whether existing outcome measures capture the core outcomes that are important to patients with long-term conditions. The development and evaluation of self-care support initiatives should take into account the extent to which self-care support initiatives can be integrated into peoples' everyday lives, and the degree of fit with patients' existing adaptations and strategies. Rather than being concentrated on a single course, central resources for self-management support should be directed at a variety of systems and interventions that are able to meet the wide range of needs of patients with chronic conditions.
Rogers
Anne
A
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. anne.rogers@manchester.ac.uk
Kennedy
Anne
A
Bower
Peter
P
Gardner
Caroline
C
Gately
Claire
C
Lee
Victoria
V
Reeves
David
D
Richardson
Gerry
G
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D006113:United Kingdom