Strategies Empowering Activities in Everyday Life: An Internet-based Occupational Therapy Intervention

Strategies Empowering Activities in Everyday Life (SEE 2.0); A Feasibility Evaluation of an Internet-based Occupational Therapy Intervention

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility, potential outcomes and the implementation process of a second updated version of an internet-based intervention in occupational therapy, focusing on self-management in activities of everyday life to promote health in people with chronic diseases.

The number of people with chronic disease is increasing as is the need of preventive efforts to facilitate their health. Chronic diseases are defined as 'long-term health conditions' that require constant attention and/or limit activities of daily living. People living with one or multiple chronic diseases experience difficulties to live an active everyday life and restrictions of engagement in various activities are common. Interventions that support their process of change and development of self-management in everyday life in relation to their changed capacity needs to be established. Research shows that the access to interventions is facilitated by the use of internet-based solutions. Hence, an internet-based occupational therapy intervention 'Strategies Empowering activities in Everyday life' (SEE) has been developed that will be evaluated in a feasibility trial.

The feasibility study is designed as a longitudinal trial with pre-test, post test evaluation without control group embedded in a mixed method approach. Data will be collected by assessment tools, qualitative interviews and group interviews. Evaluation of the feasibility of the intervention and the study design will be conducted in terms of acceptability, adherence, values, and implementation, from the perspective of patients with chronic disease and health care personnel at different organizational levels in primary care, as well as in out-patient and in-patient care at a regional hospital.

The results from this feasibility study will support the continued development of SEE in future larger-scale evaluation studies. The goal is that SEE will add to existing interventions and becomes implemented in clinical practice. The results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at conferences.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with, or at risk of developing, a chronic disease/long-term condition such as long-term pain, stress-related conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatological diseases, lung diseases, or neurological conditions.
• Age: 18-75 years
• Experiencing difficulties to have an active everyday life and/or experiencing a need to develop self-management strategies in everyday life.
• Have access to a screen/computer, internet and e-ID as well as being able to use them
• Be able to participate in the program, including be ready for a process of change
• Understanding of the Swedish language in written and oral form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sickness or disease which causes difficulties with understanding written and verbal advice (e.g. mental or cognitive illness).
• Having an ongoing misuse
• Receiving palliative care