Self Management Programs

SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

These programs (Chronic Disease, Chronic Pain and Diabetes) are lay-led patient education programs. Trained lay leaders meet with groups of 10-12 persons for 2 1/2 hours once each week for six consecutive weeks. Programs are delivered in community settings (senior centres, libraries, and recreation centres).

These programs do not replace traditional patient education with the doctor or health professional; they are complementary to and reinforce such education. In the programs, participants obtain new information, learn new skills and abilities, and develop new ways to manage and cope with chronic health conditions. Participants give and receive support from others who are experiencing similar health conditions. As well, they realise that they are not alone and the difficulties they are experiencing are normal.

Sessions are highly interactive, with emphasis on strategies to help individuals manage more effectively. Content includes skills mastery (accomplished through weekly contracting to do specific behaviours and through feedback) and modelling (accomplished by lay leaders with chronic conditions), and leaders frequently use group problem-solving strategies.

Trained Lay Leaders Deliver the Program

The program is given by pairs of trained lay leaders who follow a scripted Leader's Manual. Each leader must successfully complete a four-day training workshop before he/she is certified to co-lead the program. Ideally, leaders should take the program before they become leaders.

What volunteer leaders are saying about leading the program:

It's rewarding. One of the most rewarding things I've done in all my volunteer experience, because there are so many things you see that were negative in the beginning of the class that turned to positive.

You have the privilege of watching people succeed at something they try to do.

The benefits of being a leader include:
• developing group facilitation skills;
• learning about chronic health conditions;
• learning and developing self-management skills and techniques; and
• meeting others and having fun!

If you are interested in becoming a course leader, please call the toll-free line at 1-866-902-3767 or email selfmanagement@eastlink.ca

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)

About the Program
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is for people who are experiencing any type of chronic health condition; their significant others also are encouraged to attend. Although different chronic health conditions may have different physical impacts on a person's body, they often cause similar problems related to activities of daily living, interactions with the health care system, communication with family and friends, and dealing with negative emotions such as fear, anxiety and depression. Available in selected communities for Chinese and Punjabi speaking residents. Each participant receives the textbook "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions".

What you will Learn
The CDSMP teaches the following content:
- How to develop a suitable exercise program;
- Cognitive symptom management;
- Healthy eating;
- Breathing exercises;
- Problem solving;
- Communication skills (with family, friends, and health care providers);
- Use of medication; and
- How to deal with the emotions of chronic illness (anger and depression).

What CDSMP participants are saying about the program:

This was the beginning of taking control of my condition. I moved from victim, from feeling helpless, to feeling that I can do something to alleviate my condition.

Meeting with people who are dealing with the same things as me has given me a lot emotionally, and I think that's something I wouldn't be able to get anywhere else.

It changed my life . I got a lot of courage from it - a lot of courage and encouragement.

The ONLINE Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (Online CDSMP)

The Online Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is for people who are experiencing any type of chronic health condition; their significant others also are encouraged to participate. This online workshop is confidential, interactive and available to anyone with an internet connection. It is accessible to those with all levels of computer experience. An online tutorial is provided. Participants log on at their convenience 2 to 3 times per week. With up to 25 people in each workshop group, interactive sessions are posted each week for six weeks. The content is the same as provided in the in-person CDSMP. Each participant receives the textbook "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions". To register or for more information, please visit www.selfmanage.org/onlinebc or email bc@selfmanage.org

The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP)

About the Program
The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program was originally developed by Sandra LeFort, PhD at McGill University and later updated at Memorial University in Newfoundland with Lisa Sulyok, RN, CPM Health Centres in Toronto, Ontario. The program, developed in conjunction with Dr. Kate Lorig at the Stanford Patient Education Research Center, was modified from both the Chronic Disease and Arthritis Self-Management Programs. Delivered in the same format as the CDSMP, the program is designed specifically for persons experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain (such as chronic neck, shoulder, back pain, etc.), whiplash injuries, chronic regional pain syndromes, repetitive strain injury, chronic pelvic pain, post-surgical pain that lasts beyond 6 months, neuropathic pain (often caused by trauma), or neuralgias (such as post herpetic pain, and trigeminal neuralgia), and post stroke or central pain. It may also be appropriate for those with conditions such as persistent headache, Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, persons with diabetes who have neuropathy, and individuals who have severe muscular pain due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Each participant receives the textbook "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions", as well as the "Chronic Pain Workbook".

What you will Learn
The CPSMP teaches the following content:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep;
- Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance;
- Appropriate use of medications;
- Communicate effectively with your family, friends and health care professionals;
- Nutrition;
- Pacing activity and rest; and
- How to evaluate new treatments

What CPSMP participants are saying about the program:

A well presented and informative workshop of value to those suffering from chronic pain; and the family members who attended to obtain information on assisting their loved ones.

I have just completed the Chronic Pain course and wanted to let you know that it was great success; all of us participants were very pleased and would highly recommend it to others. A very warm thank you to the leaders for all their efforts and patience.

... excellent material discussed and in the textbook provided. Well presented by the leaders, great response and good participation by all involved with the program.

The Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP)

About the Program
The Diabetes Self-Management Program is for adults living with type 2 diabetes and their family members, friends and caregivers. The program teaches the skills needed for day-to-day management of diabetes and related symptoms. The first evaluation conducted by Stanford University found that people taking the DSMP had made improvements in health status, health behaviours and self-efficacy. They also found that participants had fewer emergency room visits at four months. These improvements were maintained at one year.The second evaluation found that at six months participants were less depressed, had fewer symptoms of hypoglycaemia, better communication with their family doctors, had improved their eating habits, and were reading food labels. At 12 months, the study participants continued to have less depression, better communication with physicians, better eating habits, were more activated, and have higher levels of self-efficacy. The Diabetes Self-Management Program does not conflict with existing Diabetes Education Programs and participants are encouraged to attend these sessions and to maintain contact with their doctor and diabetes educators for clarification and problems. Each participant receives the textbook "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions".

What you will Learn
The DSMP teaches the following content:
- Reading Nutrition Labels
- Preventing Low Blood Glucose
- Physical Activity & Exercise
- Strategies for Sick Days
- Dealing with Difficult Emotions
- Problem Solving
- Preventing or Delaying Complications
- Guided Imagery, Visualization and Muscle Relaxation
- Communication Skills and Working with your Health Care Team
- Healthy Eating
- Foot Care
- Depression and Positive thinking
- Making Informed Treatment Decisions

What DSMP participants are saying about the program:

The program was informative and helpful to continue to live with diabetes and maintain my acceptable quality of life. The overall benefit dervied from the workshop was more than worth the time spent in attending.

I understand this is a new course and I would highly recommend the course continue so that others may benefit.

A Matter of Balance

About the Program
A Matter of Balance is a program for adults 60 years of age and older. The program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of adults who have concerns about falls. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, to set realistic goals for increasing activity, to change their environment to reduce fall risk factors and to promote exercise to increase strength and balance. This new program is available in select communities in BC. A Matter of Balance has been evaluated by Roybal Center for Enhancement of Late-Life Function at Boston University, and won an award from the American Society on Aging in 2006. This particular workshop is held over 8 weeks for 2 hours each week. This program is available in select communities in BC. Unlike the Chronic Disease, Diabetes and Chronic Pain programs, this program is eight sessions for two hours once each week. Each participant receives a "Participant Handbook" which includes a review of the items discussed each week and the exercises that are introduced.

What you will Learn
A Matter of Balance teaches the following content:
- View falls and fear of falling as controllable
- Set realistic goals for increasing activity
- Change your environment to reduce the risk of falls
- Exercise to increase strength and balance

Active Choices

About the Program
Active Choices is a personal, telephone-support program to encourage regular physical activity for people who want to be more active. A physical activity "coach" works with individuals through regular telephone contacts to develop an exercise routine customized to the needs, abilities and goals of each participant. The program focuses on teaching self-management skills including goal setting, self-monitoring, problem solving obstacles, accessing social support, internal motivation and self-efficacy, along with relapse prevention. Trained coaches oversee two participants over a six-month period. Active Choices has been tested in a series of research trials of adults at the Stanford Prevention Research Centre. Research has demonstrated that the program is effective as a safe, successful method to assist sedentary adults in adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes regular aerobic exercise. Specifically, participants were doing more physical activity at a higher level, had more satisfaction with their body appearance and function, and had decreases in total Body Mass Index.

The advantages of being active:
- Enhances mobility
- Advantages of being active
- Improves appetite, digestion and elimination
- Keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible for easier, unrestricted movement
- Improves blood pressure readings and glucose levels
- Helps balance and agility
- Improves overall mental and physical health

What an Active Choices participant is saying about the program:

I appreciate the program. The regular contact with the coach provides support for my efforts and helps to keep me on track with my exercise goals. 

For more information or to register for these programs, please contact Lower Mainland 604-940-1273 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767 or email selfmanagement@eastlink.ca

Last updated: April 18, 2011