Services - Clinical Study

 Following is a clinical study evaluating the effectiveness of chronic disease education program:

Evidence Suggesting That a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Can Improve Health Status While Reducing Hospitalization: A Randomized Trial.

Original Articles

Medical Care. 37(1):5-14, January 1999.
Lorig, Kate R. RN, DrPH *; Sobel, David S. MD, MPH +; Stewart, Anita L. PhD ++; Brown, Byron William Jr. PhD *; Bandura, Albert PhD [S]; Ritter, Philip PhD *; Gonzalez, Virginia M. MPH *; Laurent, Diana D. MPH *; Holman, Halsted R. MD *

Abstract:
Objectives. This study evaluated the effectiveness (changes in health behaviors, health status, and health service utilization) of a self-management program for chronic disease designed for use with a heterogeneous group of chronic disease patients. It also explored the differential effectiveness of the intervention for subjects with specific diseases and comorbidities.

Methods. The study was a six-month randomized, controlled trial at community-based sites comparing treatment subjects with wait-list control subjects. Participants were 952 patients 40 years of age or older with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of heart disease, lung disease, stroke, or arthritis. Trained lay persons with chronic conditions delivered a structured patient education program.  Health behaviors, health status, and health service utilization, as determined by mailed, self-administered questionnaires, were measured.

Results. Treatment subjects, when compared with control subjects, demonstrated improvements at 6 months in weekly minutes of exercise, frequency of cognitive symptom management, communication with physicians, self-reported health, health distress, fatigue, disability, and social/role activities limitations. They also had fewer hospitalizations and days in the hospital. No differences were found in pain/physical discomfort, shortness of breath, or psychological well-being.

Conclusions. An intervention designed specifically to meet the needs of a heterogeneous group of chronic disease patients, including those with comorbid conditions, was feasible and beneficial beyond usual care in terms of improved health behaviors and health status. It also resulted in fewer hospitalizations and days of hospitalization.

Additional clinical study results are available.  Please call Diane Spitz or Susan Harris at (866) 741-7047 to schedule a time when we may present a variety of studies on the subject of patient mentoring.