Pre-post effectiveness evaluation of Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) participation on health, well-being and health service utilization.

Abstract

Objectives The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a standardized self-management intervention for patients with various chronic diseases. CDSMP provides self-management skills to enhance patient health, well-being, and coping skills. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of CDSMP delivered in routine clinical services on health, health behaviors and healthcare utilization in patients with various chronic illnesses. Methods A pragmatic single group pre-post design evaluated the effectiveness of the CDSMP in an Irish cohort using self-report data collected by service providers in hospital, community health and patient organizations. Data on health, health behavior and healthcare utilization were collected at baseline ( n = 263), immediately post-program ( n = 102), and six months ( n = 81) after enrollment. Results CDSMP participants reported statistically significant increases in activity levels, self-efficacy, energy and quality of life, and a significant decrease in depression scores at six months follow-up. There was a significant decrease in self-reported visits to the GP and in total nights spent in hospital. Discussion This national pre-post study provides preliminary evidence for the potential effectiveness of CDSMP delivered during routine care in improving important health outcomes and reducing health care utilization among a heterogeneous sample of chronic disease patients.