Next generation of self-management education: Web-based XXXX program.

@entity1 @entity162
OBJECTIVE: Education and self-management training assist @entity1 with @entity162 to take control of their condition and to reduce disability, but the timeliness and availability of the education are important. A free Web-based bipolar education program has been recently developed to provide accessible evidence-based information for @entity1 , carers and health professionals. The present paper describes the nine-module program, reports usage data and user profiles, and overviews the aims and methodology of a randomized controlled trial to measure its impact. METHODS: Customized Web reports were developed to measure usage of the Web-based program, and to profile its users on a month-by-month basis. Data on the percentage of completers of each module were also collected. A randomized controlled trial evaluating the program in @entity1 with newly diagnosed @entity162 was also commenced. RESULTS: More than 8,000 visitors used the online program in its first 6 months. Users were predominantly female, of a broad cross-section of ages, 43.5% with @entity162 , and with the remainder describing themselves as health professionals, carers/family/friends of a @entity1 with @entity162 or members of the general public. The majority (76%) completed the sessions they commenced. CONCLUSIONS: The Web-based education program is attracting a steady stream of users and is exhibiting good completion rates. This preliminary support for the program's utility requires validation from our randomized controlled trial before definite conclusions can be drawn.
