Development and evaluation of a generic education program for chronic diseases in childhood. Issue 6 (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ernst, Gundula; Menrath, Ingo; Lange, Karin; Eisemann, Nora; Staab, Doris; Thyen, Ute; Szczepanski, Ruediger
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 100:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1153
• Page End: 1160
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: CAE conventional asthma education -- HRQoL health related quality of life -- ModuS Modulares Schulungsprogramm [Modular education program for chronic diseases in childhood] -- SES socioeconomic status; Children -- Patient education -- Chronic disease -- Generic -- Modular education; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.01.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: ModuS is a generic education program targeting different diseases in childhood. It combines disease-specific modules with generic psychosocial topics. Structured curricula, trainer education, and quality standards ensure its quality. In a prospective study, ModuS was associated with improved self-management skills. ModuS modular approach facilitates the development of new education programs. Abstract: Objective: To support families with a chronically ill child, a modular curriculum and new healthcare structures (trainer education, quality management) for a group self-management program (ModuS) were developed. ModuS focuses on common psychosocial aspects of chronic conditions and comprises generic and disease-specific modules. A pilot test was conducted for asthma by comparing ModuS with an established asthma-specific education program (CAE). Methods: Under routine care conditions, 491 children (6–17 years) with asthma and their parents participated in a multi-center prospective study (265 ModuS; 226 CAE). Families' program satisfaction, disease-specific knowledge, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), life satisfaction, and burden of disease were assessed before, directly following and six weeks after participation. Results: The families were highly satisfied with the program. CAE and ModuS were associated with improved disease-specific knowledge, childreńs HRQoL and life satisfaction and decreased the families' burden. This demonstrates comparability of existing care with the modular approach. Conclusion: The ModuS approach offers a structure for effective patient education programs aiming to improve self-management. As it focused on the similarities of chronic conditions, it provides the opportunity to establish education programs for a wide range of chronic childhood diseases. Practice implications: ModuS facilitates the development of new patient education programs.