Sound interesting to you? You're not alone. More than half of people who responded to a 2008 online survey for World Arthritis Day said they would like to have access to self-management programs and courses.
Self-management programs focus on giving you the skills and techniques you need to better manage arthritis. Elements may include, pain management, relaxation techniques, stress management, and regular exercise; self-management can be taught through one-on-one instruction, reading materials, or classes. The direction is designed to help you help yourself.
Some may doubt how effective such programs can be. Several studies have assessed the effectiveness of self-management programs for osteoarthritis. Let's look at the results.
Self-Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis
One study assessed the effectiveness of a self-management program in middle-aged (40 to 60 years old) patients with hip osteoarthritis or knee osteoarthritis. The self-management program was compared to traditional care (for example, medication use) for a follow-up period of 21 months. Physical therapists instructed the study participants on self-management techniques.
After 3 months, the self-management group experienced significant improvement in knee pain and physical function, while the group receiving traditional care was stable for knee pain but worse for function. After 21 months, the self-management group had results that were even more favorable.
Self-Management of Osteoarthritis Reduces Anxiety
Another important study evaluated 812 patients with hip osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis, or hip and knee osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom. The patients, who were 50 years old and older, were randomly assigned to receive 6 self-management sessions and an educational booklet, or just the booklet with no self-management sessions.
The arthritis self-management program reduced anxiety and improved patients' perception of their ability to manage symptoms, but there was no significant effect on pain, physical function, or the number of doctor visits.
Choosing the Right Class or Program
If you are learning self-management by taking a class or program, it's important that you find one that matches your level of knowledge and experience with your disease. If you have advanced symptoms and disease consequences, it's likely that you have a lot more experience with your condition than someone who is newly diagnosed, for example. On the other hand, if you just got diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a more advanced program or class may be over your head.
Internet-based Arthritis Self-Management Program
It may be inconvenient for you to physically attend group programs or classes. The Internet can provide an alternative that's more private, comfortable, and suitable to your needs.
Convenience doesn't come at the expense of effectiveness either. In a study that compared patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia who had access to an Internet-based arthritis self-management program to patients receiving usual care, the self-management group showed improvement in pain, fatigue, activity limitation, health distress, and disability.
Points to Consider
Self-management programs can enhance your current treatment plan. Studies have shown that some benefit can be derived from self-management programs for arthritis -- even short programs lasting as little as two weeks have shown positive results. You should discuss the availability of self-management programs with your doctor.
Sources:
Self-management in osteoarthritis of hip or knee: a randomized clinical trial in a primary healthcare setting. Journal of Rheumatology. Heuts PH et al. March 2005.
http://jrheum.com/abstracts/abstracts05/543.html
Self-management of arthritis in primary care: randomized controlled trial. British Medical Journal. Buszewicz M et al. BMJ 2006;333:879 (28 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.38965.375718.80 (published 13 October 2006).
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/333/7574/879
The Internet-based arthritis self-management program; a one-year randomized trial for patients with arthritis or fibromyalgia. Arthritis Care and Research. Lorig KR et al. July 15, 2008.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119880969/abstract
