Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, including details on myalgic encephalomyelitis (me), diagnosis, gradual and sudden onset.

A randomised control trial of a self-management program for people with a chronic illness from Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian and Greek backgrounds.

Swerissen H, Belfrage J, Weeks A, Jordan L, Walker C, Furler J, McAvoy B, Carter M, Peterson C

Australian Institute for Primary Care, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self-management Program (CDSMP) when delivered to for people from Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian and Greek backgrounds living in Victoria, Australia. METHOD: The CDSMP was administered to 320 people with chronic illnesse(es) in selected low income areas in the State of Victoria, Australia. At 6 months, they were compared with randomised wait-list control subjects (n=154) using analyses of covariance. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group had significantly better outcomes on energy, exercise, symptom management, self-efficacy, general health, pain, fatigue and health distress. There were no significant effects for health services utilisation. Interactions across language groups were observed with the Vietnamese and Chinese speaking participants gaining greater benefit. CONCLUSION: Self-management programs can be successfully implemented with culturally and linguistically diverse populations in Australia. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes; explore effects on service utilisation; and to determine whether the benefits obtained from participating in a self-management program can be maintained. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Self-management programs should be considered for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Care also needs to be taken in designing recruitment strategies to minimize withdrawal rates and to ensure harder to reach people are given encouragement to participate.

Published 22 November 2006 in Patient Educ Couns, 64(1): 360-8.
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