AB1200 THE EFFECT OF TELEREHABILITATION-BASED SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ON INDIVIDUALS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Authors: E. Karakuş, F. Sari, A. Avanoğlu Güler, D. Oskay, Ç. Öksüz
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Systemic sclerosis is one of the rheumatological diseases with the lowest self-management skills. Although the effectiveness of multidisciplinary self-management interventions has been demonstrated in other rheumatic diseases, there is little evidence for a multidisciplinary comprehensive education and self-management rehabilitation approach in individuals with systemic sclerosis [1-3]. <h3>Objectives:</h3> Our study aimed to create an internet-based self-management program with an interdisciplinary team and to investigate the changes of that program on the quality of life, sleep, pain and fatigue of individuals with systemic sclerosis. <h3>Methods:</h3> 36 individuals participated in the study. The program was completed by 29 individuals with systemic sclerosis (81%). Our study proceeded for 8 weeks by sharing 45-minute videos per week. For severity of disease and severity of pain; Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ), for self-management; The Self-Efficacy Scale on People with Chronic Diseases, for sleep quality; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), for fatigue severity; Fatigue Severity Scale and for quality of life; Short Form -12 Quality of Life Scale (SF - 12) was included in that study. <h3>Results:</h3> The mean self-management score at the beginning of the program increased from 6.86±2.20 to 6.99±2.17, and the mean fatigue severity score decreased from 5.19±1.79 to 5.13±1.85. Self-management skills of individuals with systemic sclerosis increased significantly and fatigue decreased significantly at the end of the program. There were no significant differences in the parameters such as pain, physical activity, sleep and quality of life. The participants found the program and its content useful. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> The self-management program prepared with an interdisciplinary team and performed with telerehabilitation positively affected self-management and fatigue severity in individuals with systemic sclerosis. The interdisciplinary team of the study program can be strengthened with different health professionals for further studies. We think that the same intervention should be carried out as a randomized study and the continuity of its effect should be measured by following up for a long time. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Khanna D, Serrano J, Berrocal VJ, et al. Randomized controlled trial to evaluate an internet-based self-management program in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care &amp; Research. 2019;71(3):435-447. [2] Poole JL, Skipper B, Mendelson C. Evaluation of a mail-delivered, print-format, self-management program for persons with systemic sclerosis. Clinical Rheumatology. 2013;32:1393-8. [3] Poole JL, Mendelson C, Skipper B, et al. Taking charge of systemic sclerosis: A pilot study to assess the effectiveness of an internet self-management program. Wiley Online Library; 2014:778-782. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> PHA Turkey. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>