Can a simple workshop program help the most vulnerable manage chronic illness?
NCT ID NCT03840447
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a 6-week self-management program for people with chronic diseases who also face socioeconomic challenges. The program involved six weekly workshops led by a professional and a peer volunteer, aiming to empower participants to take control of their health. Researchers enrolled 235 adults across five European countries and measured changes in quality of life and health status after six months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that a low-cost, peer-led workshop program helps vulnerable people better manage chronic conditions, potentially reducing health inequalities.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study with 235 participants, but results are not yet widely reported. The program may not work equally well across different countries or health systems, and self-reported quality of life measures can be subjective.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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235 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2019
- Finished
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Aug 2020
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Person older than 18 years of age who has one of the following condition: 2. Situation 1: Isolated Caregivers • Caregiver: a person that takes care of someone with an illness. The caregiver may be a spouse or partner, sibling, adult child, other family member or friend of someone with a chronic illness. Caregivers might be primary or secondary caregivers and live with or separate from the person receiving care. Caregivers don´t have to suffer from a chronic disease, but they must have a vulnerability condition defined as at least one of the following criteria: * without support network or * without means of transport or limited access to it (without private car and without public transport near to the place of residence (more than 1 km from the house)) or * digital isolation: without wifi or internet 3. Situation 2: Vulnerable people with a chronic disease * A chronic disease (self-reported or clinically evaluated by medical staff) according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2): a chronic pathology with code between 70 and 99 registered in one of the 17 chapters (see Annex) * Chronic disease that has more than six months of evolution. * Vulnerability condition, such as: * Elderly people (older than 65 years of age) living alone or living in a nursing home and being in a situation of social or family isolation * Ethnic minorities (Travellers - Gens du Voyage) on a low income\* * Legal immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers on a low income\*. For the asylum-seekers the domicile must be known for at least 6 months * Other vulnerable persons on a low income\* even if not included in the previous target groups. * Low income: below the poverty line at 60 % of median standard of living for the year 2015 (see in the Annex, INSEE Première, 2017). We consider below the poverty line at 60 % the persons that are entitled to have: Revenu de Solidarité Active -RSA, Couverture Maladie Universelle Complémentaire - CMU-C, or Allocation Adulte Handicapé - AAH, or Allocation pour Demandeur d'Asile - ADA or Allocation de solidarité aux personnes âgées-ASPA. The persons that are entitled to have the Pension d'invalidité are included regardless their income. For all the others types of social allowance, the revenue should be below the poverty line at 60 % of median standard of living for the year 2015 (see in the Annex, INSEE Première, 2017). 4. Illiterate individuals older than 18 years of age who are in situation 1 or 2 might be included Exclusion criteria: 1. \- Person who could not commit to a 6-months follow-up regardless of the reason 2. Person living a period of crisis (domestic violence, refugees without a stable environment, eviction, etc.). 3. Basic housing needs not met (homeless or roofless). 4. Diagnosed with severe mental health problems (DSM V) (e.g. psychosis…) with distorted perception of reality and/or inability to function in a group. 5. Cognitive decline (e.g. Alzheimer´s), identified as a score from 0 to 42 on the "Test Your Memory" test. 6. Active addictive disorders (drugs, alcohol). If addiction took place in the past but at the time of inclusion the addiction is over, the person may be included 7. People without an adequate knowledge of the language of the country of residence. 8. Prisoners or subjects who are involuntary incarcerated
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Rheumatology department
Montpellier, 34295, France
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