• What is the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program? [0]
• What topics are covered in the six weeks? [0]
• What makes these sessions so effective? [0]
• Does the CDSMP replace existing programmes and treatments? [0]
• How was the Programme developed? [0]
• What did the initial results show? [0]

What is the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program?

The CDSMP is a workshop given two and half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community settings such as senior centres, churches, hospitals and libraries. People with different chronic health problems attend the programme together. Workshops are facilitated from a highly-detailed manual by two trained leaders, one or both may be peers with a chronic health condition themselves.

What topics are covered in the six weeks?

Subjects covered include:
1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation,
2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance,
3) appropriate use of medications,
4) communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals,
5) nutrition, and,
6) making informed treatment decisions.

What makes these sessions so effective?

It is the process in which the CDSMP is delivered that makes it effective. Sessions are highly participative, where mutual support and success builds the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

Does the CDSMP replace existing programmes and treatments?

The CDSMP workshops will not conflict with existing programmes or treatment. It is designed to enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education such as cardiac rehabilitation, or diabetes instruction. In addition, many people have more than one chronic condition. The programme is especially helpful for these people, as it gives them the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage their health, as well as to help them keep active in their lives.

How was the Programme developed?

A five year research project was undertaken at Stanford University to develop and evaluate, through a randomized controlled trial, a community-based self-management programme that assists people with chronic illness. The process of the CDSMP was based on the experience of the investigators and others with self-efficacy, the confidence one has they can master a new skill or affect one’s own health. The content of the workshop was the result of focus groups with people with chronic health problems, in which the participants discussed which content areas were the most important to them.

What did the initial results show?

Subjects who took the programme, when compared to those who did not, demonstrated significant improvements in exercise, cognitive symptom management, communication with physicians, self-reported general health, health distress, fatigue, disability, and social/role activities limitations. They also spent fewer days in hospital, and there was also a trend toward fewer outpatient visits and hospitalizations. It has been documented many of these results persist for as long as three years.