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AF Self-Management Programs

AF Self Management Programs
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is actively trying to help ease the burden of arthritis by contracting with the three PA Chapters of the Arthritis Foundation to implement evidence-based arthritis self-management programs throughout the Commonwealth. Each of these programs are endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program is a six-week educational program designed to teach people strategies to live better with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. The course content is standardized and includes:

  • Basic information about arthritis
  • Strategies for decreasing pain
  • Ways to relax and deal with stress
  • Proper use of exercise
  • Medications and their effects
  • Strategies for dealing with depression
  • Good nutritional habits
  • Problem-solving techniques
  • The Arthritis Helpbook (free)

Developed by Kate Lorig, RN, DrPH at Stanford Arthritis Center, and adopted by the Arthritis Foundation in 1981, this course offers a standardized curriculum based on a needs assessment, documenting that people with arthritis are concerned about issues like pain, disability, fear and depression. Effectiveness of the Arthritis Self-Help Course has been well documented through repeated randomized experimental control trials.*

  • At the four-month post-intervention, participants exhibited improved knowledge, increeased frequency of self-care behaviors such as exercise and relaxation techniques.
  • Four years after participation, pain had remained as 20% lower that before the course participation.
  • Four years after participation, visits to physicians remained at 40% lower than before course participation.

*Lorig K, Mazonson P, Holman H: Evidence suggesting that health education for self-management in patients with chronic arthritis has sustained health benefits while reducing health care costs. Arthritis & Rheumatism 36(4): 439-36. 1993.