PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - JENNIFER N. STINSON
AU  - PATRICK J. McGRATH
AU  - ELLEN D. HODNETT
AU  - BRIAN M. FELDMAN
AU  - CIARAN M. DUFFY
AU  - ADAM M. HUBER
AU  - LORI B. TUCKER
AU  - C. ROSS HETHERINGTON
AU  - SHIRLEY M.L. TSE
AU  - LYNN R. SPIEGEL
AU  - SARAH CAMPILLO
AU  - NAVREET K. GILL
AU  - MEGHAN E. WHITE
TI  - An Internet-based Self-management Program with Telephone Support for Adolescents with Arthritis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.091327
DP  - 2010 Sep 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1944--1952
VI  - 37
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/37/9/1944.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/37/9/1944.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2010 Sep 01; 37
AB  - Objective. To determine the feasibility of a 12-week Internet-based self-management program of disease-specific information, self-management strategies, and social support with telephone support for youth with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and their parents, aimed at reducing physical and emotional symptoms and improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods. A nonblind pilot randomized controlled trial (NCT01011179) was conducted to test the feasibility of the “Teens Taking Charge: Managing Arthritis Online” Internet intervention across 4 tertiary-level centers in Canada. Participants were 46 adolescents with JIA, ages 12 to 18 years, and 1 parent for each participant, who were randomized to the control arm (n = 24) or the Internet intervention (n = 22). Results. The 2 groups were comparable on demographic and disease-related variables and treatment expectation at baseline. Attrition rates were 18.1% and 20.8%, respectively, from experimental and control groups. Ninety-one percent of participants randomized to the experimental group completed all 12 online modules and weekly phone calls with a coach in an average of 14.7 weeks (SD 2.1). The control group completed 90% of weekly attention-control phone calls. The Internet treatment was rated as acceptable by all youth and their parents. In posttreatment the experimental group had significantly higher knowledge (p < 0.001, effect size 1.32) and lower average weekly pain intensity (p = 0.03, effect size 0.78). There were no significant group differences in HRQOL, self-efficacy, adherence, and stress posttreatment. Conclusion. Findings support the feasibility (acceptability, compliance, and user satisfaction) and initial efficacy of Internet delivery of a self-management program for improving disease-specific knowledge and reducing pain in youth with JIA.