Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Molly A. Rose, PhD¹, Julie Becker, PhD, MPH², Robyn Salkey, MS², Abbie Schlener², and Christine Arenson, MD². (1) JCHP School of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, 130 S. 9th Street, Suite 1205, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-503-7567, Molly.Rose@jefferson.edu, (2) JMC Department of Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Older adults suffer a disproportionate share of chronic disease, with low income, minority elders more likely to suffer excess morbidity and mortality. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) has been shown to improve health behaviors and health status, and decrease health care utilization in relatively young, affluent, whites and Latinos enrolled in an HMO. This qualitative evaluation seeks to determine which elements are effective in a community-based, low-income, urban, African American population, as well community participants' perceptions on sustaining health benefits of the CDSMP. The validated intervention (Lorig et. al) consists of a six week workshop, with 2.5 hour sessions weekly. Based on self-efficacy theory, the standardized program uses two leaders (one health educator and one community lay leader), who have been trained and conduct sessions according to the leaders manual, previously adapted for African Americans. Each group has 10 to 16 participants with one or more chronic health condition, recruited from community-based settings. Focus groups were conducted with program participants six months to one year after completion. In addition, a focus group of community lay leaders was conducted. A total of 4 focus groups (25 participants) of CDSMP completers, and one group (5 participants) of lay leaders were conducted. Common themes that emerged were very high levels of satisfaction with the CDSMP program, and a strong desire to continue meeting with their groups beyond the six-week program. Participants and lay leaders uniformly had difficulty translating the action plan technique taught in the CDSMP to new situations, and desired problem-focused sessions. Community members highly valued the input of the health educator, and preferred ongoing contact with a perceived expert. While the CDSMP delivered in urban, community settings to low-income African American elders demonstrates similar benefits as in majority, younger, affluent subjects, elders may need reinforcement to sustain these benefits as robustly over time. The elders and their peer leaders desired an ongoing program, which will provide both social support and problem-specific information in a safe, friendly environment, led by a perceived expert. A low-literacy booster session program plan for elders who completed the CDSMP was developed to meet these needs.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to

• discuss the theory and method of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
• relate the qualitative findings of African American participants of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program related to perceived benefits of the program.
• discuss development of a booster session follow-up reinforcement program to encourage sustaining benefits of the program.

Keywords: African American, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered