Effectiveness of chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) programs to reduce loneliness.

OBJECTIVES: With about half of older adults reporting feelings of loneliness, interventions are needed to improve connectedness among our aging population. The health benefits of Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs are well documented, but workshops' ability to reduce loneliness remains unknown. METHODS: Using the Campaign to End Loneliness Measurement Tool, we examined 295 CDSME participants' loneliness changes before and after the 6-week face-to-face workshops. Statistical analyzes used generalized estimating equations (GEE). RESULTS: On average, participants were age 74.3(8.9) years and self-reported 3.3(2.2) chronic conditions. The majority of participants were female (83%) and attended workshops in English (77%). Significant reductions in loneliness scores were observed from baseline to post-workshop (p<0.001). DISCUSSION: Findings expand our understanding about the benefits of small-group CDSME workshops to reduce loneliness among participants. CDSME workshops may reduce loneliness because of their highly interactive and process-driven format and ability to create bonds between participants with chronic conditions and shared experiences.

Smith, M. L., Chen, E., Lau, C. A., Davis, D., Simmons, J. W., & Merianos, A. L.

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