 If you are interested in enrolling in a
self-management course for your arthritis
or chronic illness, please phone 1800 011
041 for further information.
Definition of Self-Management
In September 2005 An International Conference
on Patient Self-management was held in
Canada and a conference definition of self-management
was included in a paper written by Patrick
McGowan. It said:
“Self-management relates to the
tasks that an individual must undertake
to live well with one or more chronic conditions.
These tasks include gaining confidence
to deal with medical management, role management
and emotional management.”
In November 2006 The Chronic Illness Alliance
of NSW conducted a round table to commence
compiling a position paper on self-management
on behalf of their consumers. They produced
a draft definition of self management which
says:
Self-Management is the term given to the
way a person proactively plans and manages
their life and lifestyle to optimise their
health, well being and quality of life
when living with one or more chronic health
conditions.
Self-management is the ability to make
informed choices about treatment and to
change behaviour to improve your health
outcomes and quality of life.
Self-management involves the individual
with the chronic disease:
- adopting a lifestyle that promotes
and protects health,
- understanding the disease(s) and treatment
options,
- being actively involved in decisions
and planning the management of their
disease in partnership with the health
care team,
- monitoring and managing the signs
and symptoms of illness,
- implementing and adhering to their
treatment plan,
- managing the physical, emotional and
social impact of the disease(s) on their
life.
(Flinders Human Behaviour & Health
Research Unit)
Around 1996 the “Lorig” Stanford
University Course of Arthritis Self-Management
became available in NSW through
licenses given to the Arthritis State & Territory
Offices. These offices had Master Trainers
and Trainers skilled by Stanford University,
who led leader training courses for many
organisations, including the State Health
departments and other non government agencies.
Using the leaders trained these organisations
then conducted courses for participants.
The Arthritis “Lorig” course
was followed by the introduction of the
Chronic Disease “Lorig” Course which
was introduced using the same system.
Challenging Arthritis – Internet
Self-Management program – available
nationally
 In 2004 a decision was made by Arthritis
NSW to develop an internet based self-management
program, primarily designd to assist people
in rural and regional areas. A
gap had been identified that many people
were
unable
to access
a six week course because of geographical
considerations and that men were not attending
the courses on a regular basis.
The program is available on www.challengingarthritis.org
It has four modules: Coping with Arthritis,
Managing pain, Exercise, Stress management
and Relaxation. There is a brochure with
a summary of the program available.
You
do not need a computer! For
your printed copy of the Challenging
Arthritis program,
phone
1800 332 131
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History of Self-Management and Arthritis
NSW
Arthritis NSW has been involved in conducting
Self-Management courses since the Arthritis
Education Program was developed by the
AFNSW Education Committee over 3 years
from 1981-1983. A number of key health
professionals from Royal North Shore Hospital
were on this committee. A pharmaceutical
company (Ciba-Geigy) became involved as
a sponsor in 1985 and produced and printed
the first Leaders Manual & Participants
Handbook in 1986. They also arranged the
first training workshop at a hotel at St
Leonards (near RNSH). This program was
evaluated.
There were minor revisions made to the
course in 1987 and then in 1988 further
major revisions were made. In 1992 another
major
revision
was completed by Judy Stenmark, senior
educator at that time.
An
Australian Self-Management course - program
development
A new Australian self-management course
is being developed. The Program
will commence trial courses,
one
in Albury
and
one in
Eastern
Sydney about July 2007. These courses will
be evaluated by the The UNSW Research Centre
for Primary Health Care and Equity which
is part of the School
of Public Health and Community Medicine
in the
Faculty of Medicine at the
University of New South Wales.
The program will offer people with
a chronic illness an opportunity to develop
and use self-management skills and make
lifestyle choices which help to prevent
the progression of the disease and improve
their quality of life.
Program Aim
The program aims to facilitate the
participants identifying their need and
desire for behaviour change, to challenge
unhealthy attitudes and behaviours and
acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes
to implement positive changes that promote
health and improve their quality of life.
Program Structure
The program will consist of seven ‘core’ or
generic sessions. One session held each
week including topics such as coping with
a chronic illness, healthy eating, physical
activity, know your medicines, stress management,
working with your health care team, getting
a good
night's sleep and relaxation. The last
session is Putting
it all together which will allow participants
to make their own choices about what they
might want to change to make their lives
better when living with a chronic disease.
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