Effects of a community-based chronic disease self-management programme on chronic disease patients in Singapore

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) is a small-group intervention attended by people with chronic diseases and aims to promote self-efficacy and improve health. We adopted this programme to improve population health in the Western region of Singapore. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the CDSMP with various health outcomes for people with chronic disease living in the community.

Validated instruments were used to measure various health outcomes. Participants completed baseline questionnaires before the programme. Post-intervention questionnaires were administered 6 months after programme. Primary outcome measures include self-efficacy and self-rated health status while secondary outcomes include several other self-management behaviours and healthcare utilisation.

461 participants attended the baseline questionnaire and 265 participants returned for the post-intervention questionnaire from November 2014 to August 2020. Post intervention, participants had statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy, self-rated health score, self-management behaviours and symptoms. The proportion of participants with depression and medication adherence also improved. There were no statistically significant changes in cognitive symptom management and healthcare utilisation.

CDSMP in the community can improve health outcomes and should be standard care for people with chronic disease. It can be an effective way for sustainable chronic disease management in Singapore.