Evaluation of chronic disease self-management programme (CDSMP) for older adults in Hong Kong

Chan WLS, Hui E, Chan C, Cheung D, Wong S, Wong R, Li S, Woo J. Evaluation of chronic disease self-management programme (CDSMP) for older adults in Hong Kong. JJ Nutr Health Aging. 2011; 15(3): 209-214. Available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/5470pj15jj73u76h/

A longitudinal, quasi-experimental study. Community-based and primary care setting.
Seven hundred and seventy-two participants aged 55 or above with at least one chronic disease and were living in the community.

The 6-weeks programme consisted of 6 group sessions, with each session lasting for 2.5 hours. Trained professional and elder lay leaders facilitated participants to gain essential self-management knowledge and skills for the effective management of chronic diseases.

At baseline and 6 months, four categories of outcome measures were documented, covering self-management behaviours, self-efficacy, health status, and health care utilization.

302 and 298 participants in the intervention and control groups completed 6 months follow-up respectively. Participants in the intervention group reported significant improvements in all self-management behaviours and self-efficacy measures, and 5 health status measures (social role limitation, depressive symptoms, health distress, symptoms of pain and discomfort, and self-rated health) when compared with those in the control group.

The locally-adapted CDSMP may improve self-management behaviours, self-efficacy and health status among older adults with chronic diseases in Hong Kong. CDSMP may be integrated into primary care services for older adults.