Results of a self-management program for non-communicable diseases in its face-to-face and online versions: a comparative study

This study compared the effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program delivered in face-to-face and online modalities for individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), aiming to evaluate its impact on self-management and self-efficacy. A pre-experimental design with repeated measures (pretest, post-test, and three-month follow-up) was used in two independent groups (face-to-face n = 52, online n = 25), the Partners in Health Scale and the Self-Efficacy for the Management of Chronic Diseases instrument, both validated tools, were used. The results showed that although both groups started from similar conditions, the face-to-face modality produced statistically significant improvements in self-management and self-efficacy, which were sustained in the medium term, while the online modality did not show significant changes. These differences may be attributed to factors such as group interaction, technical support, and participants’ digital literacy. It is concluded that in-person training may yield better outcomes in self-management; however, findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.