The Chronic Disease Challenge The Chronic ... - Capital Health

LEADERS IN HEALTH
Be Your Own Boss
Learning to manage
a chronic disease
can be challenging,
especially for teens.
“There are few supports available for
youth living with chronic diseases,
and as this population continues to
grow, we’re looking for new ways to
meet their needs,” explains Marianne
Stewart, Vice-President and Chief
Operating Officer, Primary Care division
for Capital Health. “The Be Your
Own Boss program was developed
to fill a gap in self-management
support and to give youth the tools
to manage their health conditions.”
Be Your Own Boss is the first official
adaptation for youth of the Stanford
Chronic Disease Self-Management
program. The program is designed
for teens and young adults with
chronic conditions such as diabetes,
multiple sclerosis, asthma and cancer,
who are moving from pediatric to
adult health services.
“All teens have a lot to deal with in
their transition to adulthood,” says
Stephanie Donaldson-Kelly, Director,
Chronic Disease Management for
Capital Health. “If teens have a
chronic illness, they are facing many
additional challenges such as how
to manage the symptoms of the
disease, how to book appointments
and monitor medications, how to
succeed at school, relationships
with friends and family and how
to manage the difficult emotions
of living with a chronic illness.”
Young adults with chronic diseases
who have received training and
effectively made the transition
themselves volunteer their time
to mentor their peers.
Jenn Fearon, a fourth year Education
student at the University of Alberta
has been a diabetic for 18 years.
Fearon, a youth leader with the
program, explains her involvement,
“I volunteer for Be Your Own Boss
because I know how difficult it is
to transition from the pediatric clinic
to the adult clinic. It’s a scary time.
Often you feel alone, like you’re the
only one who is going through this.”
The workshops were developed by
an interdisciplinary team at Capital
Health including registered nurses,
a registered psychologist, Stanford
Master Trainers and leaders with
the assistance of teen champions.
The workshops are flexible to meet
the needs of the participants, but
generally participants meet for
two and a half hours each week
for six weeks.
Fearon explains, “The workshops
focus on goal setting and how to
work with medical professionals.
We provide tips to develop coping
strategies and talk about the importance
of eating right and exercising.
We’re helping teens with chronic
conditions become aware of the skills
they already have to manage their
illness. Plus, we have a lot of fun!”
Other health regions across Canada
have approached Capital Health
about the program. Capital Health
is pleased to share the knowledge
and experience in order to help
youth manage chronic diseases.
For more information about
Be Your Own Boss workshops
call 780-482-8527.
Jenn Fearon, Be Your Own Boss youth
leader, with another youth facilitator,
Joel Tiedmann.
The Stanford Chronic Disease
Self-Management program
was developed by the Division of
Family and Community Medicine
in the Department of Medicine at
Stanford University. The program
is a series of workshops for people
with different chronic health
problems. The six-week workshops
are offered in community settings
and are facilitated by two trained
leaders, one or both of whom
are peers with a chronic health
condition.
Capital Health’s adult version of
the program, Live Better Every Day,
and Be Your Own Boss for youth,
cover such topics as how to
manage symptoms, how to work
more effectively with the doctor
and health team, and include tips
on exercise and activity, nutrition,
relaxation and stress management
techniques.
Live Better Every Day and Be
Your Own Boss self-management
programs are designed to enhance
regular treatment and disease
specific education.
14 CHQ ~ SUMMER 2008 www.capitalhealth.ca