Better Choices, Better Health
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Better Choices, Better HealthTM is an online chronic disease self-management program. Facilitated by two trained facilitators, one or both of whom have a chronic condition themselves, groups of about 25 participants interact with each other through internal messaging and online discussion boards. Participants provide mutual support as they cover topics including techniques to deal with pain and frustration, appropriate exercise and diet, medication use, and treatment decisions. Throughout the 6-week workshop, participants log on at their convenience 2-3 times each week for about 2 hours. Better Choices, Better HealthTM is designed to enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education. The program has been licensed by the National Council on Aging, which is currently running a one-year national pilot, as well as online programs specific to diabetes and arthritis.
Goal / Mission
Better Choices, Better HealthTM gives people with chronic conditions the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage their heath, as well as to help them keep active in their lives.
Results / Accomplishments
In a randomized intervention of 958 patients with heart disease, lung disease, or type 2 diabetes, those that participated in the online intervention had significant improvements in health statuses compared with usual care control patients. The study measured health status, health care utilitization, self-efficacy and self-management behaviors over a 12-month period with three online questionnaires. The effects of the intervention have been found to be similar to those of the community-based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, on which Better Choices, Better HealthTM was modeled.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
National Council on Aging
Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Other Conditions
Health / Older Adults
Health / Older Adults
Organization(s)
National Council on Aging
Source
Stanford School of Medicine
Date of publication
2006
Date of implementation
2002
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults, Older Adults