Rehabilitation outcomes of a lifestyle intervention program for chronic disease medical insurer referred and funded patients versus self-initiated and self-funded patients.

Chronic diseases of lifestyle are typically diseases of long duration and slow progression and are the major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In 2008, 57 million people died worldwide of which 33 million deaths were due to chronic diseases. The burden of chronic disease in low and middle income countries is increasing, yet the capacity for prevention and control thereof is inadequate. It has been suggested that more than 50 % of global deaths can be prevented by combining cost effective national and international efforts as well as individual action to target management of well established risk factors including increasing physical activity, improvement of nutrition, decrease tobacco and alcohol use and implementation of strategies to address adverse psychosocial stress. The main aims of this dissertation were 1) to review the existing literature focussing on the prevalence, associated risk factors, management and treatment interventions of chronic disease, and 2) to compare rehabilitation outcomes between a pilot group of patients referred and funded to the CDRRRP by their medical insurer, namely Fedhealth (FH) versus a self funded and referred group (SF) of patients with chronic disease, to determine if any differences exist in their outcomes achieved after completing the 12 week programme, and 3) to evaluate the effect of a chronic disease rehabilitation programme on outcomes after 12 weeks (36 sessions) for chronic disease patients.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

MRC/UCT RU for Exercise and Sport Medicine

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Hope, Fallon

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/2752

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/2752