Medical care
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Long-term randomized controlled trials of tailored-print and small-group arthritis self-management interventions.
The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of a mail-delivered, tailored self-management intervention (SMART) and to compare it with the classic Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP). ⋯ A mail-delivered arthritis self-management program, SMART, was similarly effective to the classic ASMP, with slightly better results in the first year and a slightly more rapid attenuation over the next 2 years. Results suggest that both programs are effective, and that the addition of a mail-delivered program could improve accessibility to arthritis self-management treatment.