Table A1: Study Design Characteristics.

Study, Year	Country	Design	Arms, n	Attrition, %	Recruitment	Length of Follow-up	Patient Eligibility Criteria	Control
Lorig et al, 1999 (4)	United States	Single-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 1,140 SM: 664 UC: 476 Completed Total: 952 SM: 561 UC: 391	15.1 SM 17.9 UC	Self-selection Community Public service announcements, flyers, posters, newsletters, and referrals from government employers	6 months	Chronic diseases: physician-confirmed asthma, CAD, CHF, chronic arthritis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or stroke Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic diseases Exclusion criteria: compromised mentation; received chemotherapy or radiation within past year for cancer; < 40 years age	Waiting-list control
Fu et al, 2003 (17)	China	Single-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 954 SM: 526 UC: 428 Completed Total: 779 SM: 430 UC: 349	18.3 SM 18.5 UC	Self-selection Community Public service announcements, flyers, posters, interpersonal persuasion	6 months	Chronic diseases: medical record-confirmed arthritis, asthma, CAD, CHF, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, emphysema, hypertension, or stroke Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic diseases; ≥ 20 years age Exclusion criteria: compromised mentation; received chemotherapy or radiation within past year for cancer; patients for whom problems could be expected with compliance or follow-up; participation in another study in previous 30 days; stroke with severe physical disability ;< 20 years of age	Waiting-list control
Lorig et al, 2003 (15)	United States	Single-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 551 SM: 327 UC: 224 Completed Total: 443 SM: 265 UC: 178	19.0 SM 20.5 UC	Self-selection Community Outreach	4 months	Chronic diseases: physician-confirmed (self-reported if physician unavailable) heart disease, lung disease, or type 2 diabetes Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic diseases Exclusion criteria: treated for cancer in last year	Waiting-list control
Griffiths et al, 2005 (19)	United Kingdom	Double-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 476 SM: 238 UC: 238 Completed Total: 439 SM: 221 UC: 218	7.1 SM 8.4 UC	Direct invitation General practice registry Letters followed by telephone calls	4 months	Chronic diseases: registry-confirmed arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory disease Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic diseases; Bangladeshi; > 20 years age	Waiting-list control
Lorig et al, 2006 (14)	United States	Non-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 958 SM: 457 UC: 501 Completed Total: 780 SM: 354 UC: 426	22.5 SM 17.6 UC	Self-selection Community Links to study website, calendar announcements, and articles in newspapers	12 months	Chronic diseases: physician-confirmed chronic lung disease, heart disease, or type 2 diabetes Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic diseases; ≥ 18 years age; no active treatment for cancer; not ever participated in small-group CDSMP; access to a computer; agreed to 1-2 hours per week of log-on time spread over at least 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks; able to complete online questionnaire	Care from usual provider
Swerissen et al, 2006 (16)	Australia	Non-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 728 SM: 467 UC: 261 Completed Total: 474 SM: 320 UC: 154	31.5 SM 41.0 UC	Self-selection Community Public service announcements, posters, brochures, newsletters, community festivals, open days, local presentations, referrals from health professionals	6 months	Chronic diseases: physician-confirmed chronic illness (not defined) or chronic pain Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic diseases; ≥ 18 years age; Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, or Chinese; live within municipal areas of Boroondara, Darebin, Hume, Greater Dandenong, Yarra, or Whittlesea Exclusion criteria: < 18 years age; primary illness psychological or advanced neurological disorder	Waiting-list control
Elzen et al, 2007 (18)	Netherlands	Non-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 144 SM: 70 UC: 74 Completed Total: 129 SM: 67 UC: 62	4.3 SM 16.2 UC	Direct invitation/ self-selection Outpatient clinic Public service announcements, magazine ads	6 months	Chronic diseases: angina pectoris, arthritis, asthma, CHF, COPD, diabetes (unclear how diagnosis confirmed) Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of the above chronic diseases; ≥59 years of age; ability to communicate in Dutch; availability to attend a 6-week course Exclusion criteria: life expectancy of less than 1 year; already attending a disease-specific self-management program; participating in another study; permanent residents of a nursing home	Waiting-list control
Kennedy et al, 2007 (12)	United Kingdom	Non-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 629 SM: 313 UC: 316 Completed Total: 521 SM: 248 UC: 273	20.8 SM 13.6 UC	Self-selection Community Recruitment through EPP, primary care trust staff, press releases, and EPP web page	6 months	Chronic diseases: self-reported chronic condition (not defined) Inclusion criteria: 1 or more self-reported chronic condition	Waiting-list control
Jerant et al, 2009 (10)	United States	Non-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 415 Intervention A: 138 Intervention B: 139 UC: 138 Completed Total: 415 Intervention A: 138 Intervention B: 139 UC: 138	15.9 SM 14.4 T 7.2 UC	Self-selection/direct invitation Primary care Announcements and telephone calls	12 months	Chronic diseases: physician-confirmed arthritis, asthma, COPD, CHF, depression, or diabetes Inclusion criteria: 1 or more of above chronic disease; ≥40 years age; ability to speak and read in English; residence in a private home with active telephone; eyesight and hearing adequate; at least 1 activity impairment assessed by the HAQ and/or a score of ≥4 on the 10-item CES-D	Care from their usual provider
Hochhalter et al, 2010 (13)	United States	Single-blind RCT	Randomized Total: 79 SM: 26 Safety group: 27 UC: 26 Completed Total: 64 SM: 20 Safety group: 23 UC: 21	23.1 SM 14.8 S 19.2 UC	Direct invitation Primary care clinic Letters	6 months	Chronic diseases: ICD-9 diagnosis arthritis, depression, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, lung disease, or osteoporosis Inclusion criteria: received treatment for at least 2 of the above chronic conditions in the previous 12 months; ≥ 65 years age; can communicate in English; has access to telephone; expected to receive most of their care within the health care system for at least 8 months prior to baseline Exclusion criteria: diagnosed with dementia; receiving hospice care; unable to travel to clinic; living outside of the recruitment area	Care from usual care provider

Abbreviations: CAD, coronary artery disease; CDSMP, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program; CES–D, Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression; CHF, congestive heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; EPP, Expert Patient Programme; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; ICD-9, International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition; RCT, randomized controlled trial; S, safety arm; SM, self-management arm; T, telephone arm; UC, usual care arm.