The CDSMP and DSMP workshops are  six-sessions of self management education for patients with one or more chronic conditions or patients with diabetes.   The purpose of both self management programs  is two-fold: (1) to help patients take day-to-day responsibility for their care and (2) to increase the skills necessary to manage their diseases and work effectively with their health care professionals. In addition they learn problem-solving and decision-making skills which enable them to confront the ever-changing challenges of living with a chronic illness. The workshops are facilitated by two leaders, one or both of whom are trained lay people who themselves have a chronic condition. Participants are invited to bring a family member or friend.

The Diabetes Self-Management workshop is given 2½ hours once a week for six weeks, in community settings such as churches, community centers, libraries and hospitals.

People with type 2 diabetes attend the program in groups of 12-16. Workshops are facilitated from a highly detailed manual by two trained Leaders, one or both of whom are peer leaders with diabetes themselves.

Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration; 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; 3) healthy eating 4) appropriate use of medication; and 5) working more effectively with health care providers. Participants will make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program. Physicians and other health professionals both at Stanford and in the community have reviewed all materials in the course.

Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, and an audio relaxation tape, and an audio exercise tape.*

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a workshop given two and a half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community settings such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. People with different chronic health problems attend together. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves.

Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, 3) appropriate use of medications, 4) communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, 5) nutrition, 6) decision making, and, 7) how to evaluate new treatments.

Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions, 4th Edition, and an audio relaxation CD, Relaxation for Mind and Body.*

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

Disease-specific education classes are designed to assist newly diagnosed participants in learning the information and skills necessary to care for their specific medical condition. Topics covered in these classes can include diabetic food choices, use of inhalers, specific exercise regimens, symptom management or use of disease-specific medications. These classes are led by nurses, health educators or doctors. Social and psychological adjustment to living with the condition is introduced, but is covered in a limited way.

Help Yourself was designed to fill this need, and helps patients to continue living full and active lives. It develops the generic skills needed to help the patient deal with the medical self management of the disease and with the life role changes and emotions that are always part of living with a chronic illness. Thus, emphasis is placed on helping patients manage common problems such as fatigue, communicating with friends, family and providers, dealing with anger and depression, and designing and maintaining an appropriate exercise program. In addition they learn disease related decision-making and problem-solving skills. The most important outcome is that through this practice and group feedback patients become more confident and are able to combine more active lives with self management of their chronic illness(es).

A person who has been newly diagnosed with a chronic health condition would benefit from taking a basic health education class first to develop a working understanding of the recommended self-care before attending Help Yourself.

We recommend that nearly all patients with a chronic condition be referred to the workshop; let them decide for themselves if they would benefit from such an intervention. Consider incorporating such a referral into the usual care path for specific diseases.

Appropriate chronic conditions include heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, stroke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome or asthma. It is very useful for people with chronic conditions struggling with weight management issues. Anyone who is at least 20 years old with one or more chronic diseases is eligible to attend provided that they have good mental functioning and are able to get to class. The class is beneficial for patients even if they have been coping with their condition for many years.

Note: Help Yourself is generally not recommended for the chronic pain population. Although the Help Yourself workshop features a component on managing pain, Help Yourself is not appropriate for most patients for whom chronic pain is the chief complaint. While this program is a valuable resource for patients with other chronic conditions, in most cases the chronic pain patient needs more structure than can be provided by trained lay leaders.

Many people have more than one chronic condition. The program is especially helpful for these people, as it gives them the skills to coordinate all the activities needed to manage their health, as well as to help them maintain a full and active life.

CDSMP and DSMP were created by Dr. Kate Lorig and her colleagues at Stanford University’s Patient Education Research Center and are the best known and most highly regarded self management program for people with chronic conditions.

CDSMP and DSMP were developed and tested in a randomized, controlled trial by the Patient Education Research Center at the Stanford University School of Medicine. All components of the workshop have been medically approved.

A randomized study of 1,000 people demonstrated significant changes in:

Health status –
• Less fatigue
• Less disability
• Improved role function
• 0.8 fewer days in the hospital

Self management –
• Increased minutes of exercise
• Increased use of cognitive pain and stress management techniques
• Improved communication with their physicians
• More confidence in their ability to manage their conditions