Abstract: The Design and Evaluation of Psychoeducational/ Self-Management Interventions

The Design and Evaluation of Psychoeducational/ Self-Management Interventions

KATHLEEN MULLIGAN, STANTON P. NEWMAN, ERIK TAAL, MIEKE HAZES, and JOHANNES J. RASKER

ABSTRACT.

A large number of interventions have been developed with the aim of improving patient self-management of arthritis. These interventions are complex, usually including multiple components, and have certain key features including participants' awareness of the arms of the study and their often having clear preferences for one or other arm. Because of these and other differences the randomized controlled trial is not necessarily ideal for studies of self-management interventions. This special interest group (SIG) considered designs that may be more appropriate. Self-management interventions use a wide range of outcome measures, which are often assessed at a range of time periods after the intervention. Evaluation of the efficacy of self-management interventions was discussed. One important issue is to link the expected influence of the intervention to the key assessment of outcome. The SIG also examined the factors that may influence the effectiveness of self-management interventions. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:2470-4)

Key Indexing Terms:

SELF-MANAGEMENT
INTERVENTION DESIGN
STUDY EVALUATION
OUTCOME ASSESSMENT
ARTHRITIS

From the Centre for Behavioural and Social Sciences in Medicine, University College London, London, UK; Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Department of Communication Studies, University of Twente, Enschede; and Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

K. Mulligan, MSc; S.P. Newman, DPhil, Centre for Behavioural and Social Sciences in Medicine, University College London; E. Taal, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Department of Communication Studies, University of Twente; M. Hazes, MD, PhD, Erasmus University Medical Center; J.J. Rasker, MD, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Department of Communication Studies, University of Twente.

Address reprint requests to Prof. S.P. Newman, Centre for Behavioural and Social Sciences in Medicine, 48 Riding House Street, University College London, London, W1W 7E4, UK.