Osteoarthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoarthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication. | ||||||||
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The internet-based arthritis self-management program: a one-year randomized trial for patients with arthritis or fibromyalgia.Lorig KR, Ritter PL, Laurent DD, Plant K Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of an Internet-based Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP) as a resource for arthritis patients unable or unwilling to attend small-group ASMPs, which have proven effective in changing health-related behaviors and improving health status measures. METHODS: Randomized intervention participants were compared with usual care controls at 6 months and 1 year using repeated-measures analyses of variance. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia and Internet and e-mail access (n = 855) were randomized to an intervention (n = 433) or usual care control (n = 422) group. Measures included 6 health status variables (pain, fatigue, activity limitation, health distress, disability, and self-reported global health), 4 health behaviors (aerobic exercise, stretching and strengthening exercise, practice of stress management, and communication with physicians), 5 utilization variables (physician visits, emergency room visits, chiropractic visits, physical therapist visits, and nights in hospital), and self-efficacy. RESULTS: At 1 year, the intervention group significantly improved in 4 of 6 health status measures and self-efficacy. No significant differences in health behaviors or health care utilization were found. CONCLUSION: The Internet-based ASMP proved effective in improving health status measures at 1 year and is a viable alternative to the small-group ASMP. Published 15 July 2008 in Arthritis Rheum, 59(7): 1009-17.
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