Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118608

Victoria M. Rizzo, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York, Richardson Hall, 135 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, 518-437-3695, vmrizzo@albany.edu, Helen Levine, Vice President Medical Affairs, Arthritis Foundation, New York Chapter, 122 East 42 St., 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168, Michelle Disken, Director, Medical Affairs, Arthritis Foundation, New York Chapter, 122 East 42 St., 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168, and Eve Kintner, MSW, Elder Network of the Capital Region, Center for Excellence in Aging Services, University at Albany, SUNY, 135 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12222.

In May 2002, the New York State (NYS) Legislature awarded the NYS Chapters of the Arthritis Foundation $250,000 for one year to: 1) build the capacity to offer more disease management courses; 2) train additional leaders to deliver programs throughout NYS; 3) recruit more participants for these programs, especially to underserved populations, including minority and gay/lesbian communities; and 4) evaluate the capacity-building efforts of the chapters as well as the effects of participation in evidence-based disease management and exercise programs. As part of their “alliance building” objective, the chapters established a partnership with the Center for Excellence in Aging Services (CEAS) at a public University to: (1) assist in identifying peer leaders through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and (2) to design and implement the evaluation of the self-help courses.

Using a non-randomized pre-/pot-test design, the Arthritis Foundation offered 175 additional disease management and exercise programs to more than 3,500 participants. Subjects participated in one of three programs offered: the Arthritis Self-Help Course (ASHC), People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE), and Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Program (AFAP). Data were analyzed using Paired Samples t-Tests and chi-square analyses. Outcome measures included: daily activities, and positive changes in arthritis symptoms, general arthritis knowledge, self-efficacy, depression, and participant satisfaction.

Statistically significant improvements were demonstrated in the areas of daily activities, changes in arthritis symptoms, general arthritis knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about exercise and their abilities to manage their arthritis symptoms, and level of depression among disease management and exercise course participants.

Learning Objectives:

• As a result of this session, participants will be able to identify the benefits that participants experience as a result of participation in evidence-based Arthritis self-help programs.
• As a result of this session, participants will be able to identify the roles that public health social workers can play in helping their communities integrate cost effective, evidence-based prevention programs into the community organizations that serve individuals with chronic diseases.
• As a result of this session, participants will acquire the knowledge necessary to build capacity for the development and implementation of evidence-based disease management programs in their local communities.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation