Take Control of Your Health: Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs

Chronic disease self-management programs are free workshops for people with different chronic health diseases to attend together.  These are workshops are two and a half hours twice a week for six weeks.  At these sessions patients will be provided with some learning material including a relaxation CD on self-management entitled Time for Healing,  and a book, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 3^rd edition. A complimentary light snack will also be available at each session.  All classes are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom have chronic disease themselves. 

A chronic disease is any disease that persists for a long period of time.  This includes, but is not limited to, diabetes, heart disease, COPD, asthma, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.  These diseases unfortunately cannot be cured with medications, but self-management programs in conjunction with medication can help keep these diseases under control.  Chronic disease self-management programs will not conflict with current treatments or medications.  They are specifically designed to compliment current treatments and aide in patient education.

Chronic disease self-management programs cover several different topics pertinent to those dealing with a chronic disease.  First the program provides specific techniques people can utilize to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, and feelings of isolation.  The program can help participants improve or maintain strength, flexibility, and endurance through teaching them appropriate exercises.  In addition the program helps participants manage their medications and communicate effectively with their health professionals, family, and friends.  How nutrition can play a role in chronic disease self-management will also be addressed, and finally, participants will be assisted in evaluated new treatments to improve their health.  

      Subjects who have participated in self management programs have had positive outcomes. Stanford University development a chronic disease self-management programs and its results were as followed:

“Subjects who took the Program, 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 the hospital and there was also a trend toward fewer outpatient visits and hospitalizations. These data yield a cost-to-savings ratio of approximately 1:10. Many of these results persist for as long as three years” (2010).

The chronic disease self-management classes and materials are provided with no cost to the participants all funding is provided by the Clay County Senior Service and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.  Please register for this program by calling the Clay County Health Department at 816-595-4240. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Clay County Health Department.   

References

Standford University School of Medicine. (2010).  Chronic Disease Self Management Programs.        Retreived from http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/programs/cdsmp.html.

Anonymous. Health Your Patients ‘Live Like Their Life Depends On It’: A Free Evidence Based Disease Management Program for Patients with Chronic Diseases. Clay County Public Health Department: Liberty, Missouri. 

Anonymous. Live Like Their Life Depends On It: A Free Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop. Clay County Public Health Department: Liberty, Missouri.