The 'Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) emphasizes patients' responsibility for the day-to-day management of their condition(s), and has shown favorable effects on health behavior and healthcare utilization among various groups of patients with chronic conditions. However, the effects of the CDSMP among congestive heart failure (CHF) patients are unknown. Smeulders and coworkers aimed to assess the effects of the CDSMP on health behavior and healthcare utilization in patients with CHF. The randomized, controlled trial with 12 months of follow-up included 317 CHF patients with a slight to marked limitation of physical activity. Control patients (n = 131) received usual care, consisting of regular checkups at an outpatient clinic. Intervention group patients (n = 186) received usual care and participated in a 6-week self-management group program. Favorable effects on walking for exercise and other physical activities such as aerobic, stretching, and strength exercises, sports, and gardening were reported in the intervention group immediately after completion of the program. The effect of the program on other physical activities extended to 6 months of follow-up. No favorable effects were found for the other outcomes.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The CDSMP significantly improved physical activity among CHF patients for up to 6 months after the end of the program; however, it did not affect other health behavior outcomes or healthcare utilization.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A PATIENT: The performance of self-management skills can help you make a significant contribution to the management of any chronic condition, including heart failure. A longer follow-up would have been appropriate for this study, but it is suspected that the patients who were doing a number of physical activities at the end of 6 months would still be performing the actions.

ES Smeulders et al. The impact of a self-management group programme on health behaviour and healthcare utilization among congestive heart failure patients. European Journal of Heart Failure, April 9, 2009.