Does self-management lead to sustainable health benefits in people with arthritis? A 2-year transition study of 452 Australians

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the Arthritis Self-Management Course (ASMC) when applied in a nationwide context. Methods. Four hundred fifty-two people who participated in the ASMC across Australian states took part in a longitudinal followup study. ASMC is a 6 week, 2 h group educational program designed to assist people with chronic illness to better manage their condition. Measures of program effectiveness included health status and service utilization. Data were collected on 3 occasions: before intervention (baseline) and 6 months and 2 years after the program. Results. Several indicators of health status showed improvement at 6 months following the ASMC. These included reduction in pain (4%; p ..