A self-management support program for older Australians with multiple chronic conditions: a randomised controlled...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Older adults often have multiple chronic conditions, impacting their quality of life.
• Effective self-management support is crucial for improving health outcomes in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a clinician-led chronic disease self-management support (CDSMS) program.
• To assess improvements in self-rated health among older Australians with multiple chronic conditions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 254 participants aged 60+ with at least two chronic conditions.
• Participants were assigned to either a CDSMS group (goal setting, care plans) or a control group (positive attention only).
• The primary outcome was self-rated health assessed at 6 months.

Main Results:

• CDSMS participants were significantly more likely to report improved self-rated health compared to the control group (OR 2.50, P=0.023).
• No statistically significant differences were found for secondary outcomes related to health status, behavior, or service utilization.
• 91% of participants completed the 6-month program.

Conclusions:

• Clinician-led CDSMS programs may offer significant benefits for self-rated health in older adults with multiple chronic conditions.
• The findings suggest that structured support can be more effective than general positive attention or health education alone.