Maintaining effectiveness of the self-management of well-being intervention after implementation in health and social care

Abstract

Background: The Self-Management of Well-being (SMW) group intervention was found to be effective – in a randomised controlled study (RCT) - in improving self-management ability and well-being, and reducing loneliness, in older individuals. Subsequently, the intervention was implemented in health and social care organisations. In the current study we investigated whether the effectiveness of the intervention during the implementation (IMP) project was similar to the original RCT. Methods: In the IMP project 18 organisations adopted the SMW group intervention. Forty-eight professionals were trained as SMW-teachers and performed 39 SMW group interventions with 287 women of 55 year or older. In the RCT 63 women participated in the intervention condition (IRCT) and 79 in the control condition. To investigate whether the effects of the SMW group intervention on participants’ well-being and self-management ability were similar in both the IMP and the RCT, ANCOVAs were performed, and effect sizes were compared. Session attendance and drop-out rates were compared using chi-square and t-test. Findings: No significant differences between the IMP and the IRCT were found on well-being and self-management ability (p=1.00). Controlled effect sizes were medium (0.46-0.59). Session attendance and drop-out rates were not significantly different. Mean number of sessions was 4.9 (IMP) and 4.6 (IRCT) (p=.153). Drop-out rates were 21% (IMP) and 27% (IRCT) (p=.292). Discussion: The effects of the SMW group intervention on participants’ outcomes were similar in both studies. Therefore, we conclude that the SMW group intervention was successfully transferred from a research setting to health and social care settings.