Resources to Expand Delivery of Arthritis-Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions (AAEBIs)

Washington, D. C. – October 12 – The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) announces a new online toolkit for health professionals, Remote Delivery of Arthritis-Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions (AAEBIs). The resource provides valuable information and actionable steps learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to expand the delivery of AAEBIs through remote methods such as internet, phone, and mail.

Developed using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arthritis Program funding and in collaboration with the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA), the AAEBI remote toolkit features descriptions and links to AAEBI and affiliated programs, comparisons of programs, and external resources that can assist with program discovery and long-term maintenance. Arthritis-Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions, or AAEBIs, are a set of select, community-based programs that meet specific criteria identified by OAAA. The OAAA reviews eligible physical activity and self-management education programs to ensure they are supported scientifically, address arthritis-appropriate outcomes, and can be reasonably implemented and disseminated.

“This toolkit highlights programs and services that can be delivered remotely to individuals living with arthritis, including those in rural areas,” says Anika Foster, DrPH, public health advisor in CDC’s Arthritis Program. “Using lessons learned from the pandemic, we can now help health care professionals and community organizations meet people where they are, bridge gaps, and move closer to our goal of achieving health equity.”

The AAEBI toolkit is a one-stop shop for information on six of the nine self-management education AAEBI programs and three of the 12 physical activity AAEBI programs, as well as tools to facilitate delivery of remote programs. Detailed information is included for each program on planning, implementation, data collection, and tips to promote program funding and sustainability.

The toolkit is part of SOPHE’s new arthritis micro-site including recorded webinars (Arthritis and Healthy Aging YouTube Playlist), fact sheets, journal articles, and other resources for health education specialists and other professionals.

“Providing resources equitably to all populations living with arthritis and other chronic diseases is critical,” says Tammy Dillard-Steels, MPH, MBA, CAE, SOPHE’s Chief Executive Officer. “With this new toolkit and SOPHE’s micro-site, we hope to expand opportunities for health educators and other professionals to effectively disseminate evidence-based lifestyle management programs virtually and via other innovative methods.”

SOPHE’s micro-site and the AAEBI remote toolkit will be updated over time with new related information, including results from one study, supported in part by the CDC, on participant acceptance and preferences of AAEBI and affiliated programs. Users are encouraged to provide lessons learned in providing remote AAEBI programs and additional feedback on information and training needs.

About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit association that supports leaders in public health, health education and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities across the globe. SOPHE members work in health care settings, communities, organizations, schools, universities, worksites, and in local, state and federal government agencies. For more information visit www.sophe.org.

About the CDC/SOPHE 1802 Cooperative Agreement
This project was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number NU38OT000315, funded by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Arthritis Program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

About the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance
The Osteoarthritis (OA) Action Alliance is a national coalition of concerned organizations mobilized by the Arthritis Foundation and the CDC. The Alliance is committed to elevating osteoarthritis (OA) as a national health priority and promoting effective policy systems and environmental solutions that address the individual and national toll of OA. For more information visit www.oaaction.unc.edu.