Table 1.

RAFT course design

Week	First hour	Supporting materials*	Second hour
1	Course purpose and expectations Ground rules:  Commitment, confidentiality, homework  Validating fatigue: Share and discuss fatigue experiences (difference from flare)  Self-management strategies, struggles and difficulty of changing habits	H: Arthritis Research UK booklets H: Setting our course (groups’ ideas)	Energy management Boom and bust behaviour Rewards/pitfalls of this Prioritise, pace, plan, choicesH: Achieving balance H: Activity cycling T: Activity/rest diaries
2	What are your priorities for change, to ↑QoL? What are your drainers and energisers?	T: Wheel of life (priority areas)	Goal setting (two groups) Short-term/long-term goals Use peer group for ideas
3	Self-sabotage on the course Sleep and rest  Hours needed? Quality vs quantity Sleep hygiene strategies	H: Best ways of self-sabotage H: Getting a better night's sleep T: Sleep diary (if needed)	Goal-setting review Successes/barriers New goals
4	Stress and relaxation  Personal stressors, bodily reactions  Relaxation rationale and techniques	H: Effects of stress H: Relaxation practice guide T: Relaxation CD	Goal-setting review Successes/barriers New goals
5	Assertiveness and communication  Passive, manipulative, assertive? Other people's reactions to these? Communicating your needs	M: Cartoon examples H: Saying ‘No’	Goal-setting review Successes/barriers New goals
6	Review self-help tools  What have you learnt? Review each topic Dealing with setbacks—what could you do? Negative self-talk, automatic thoughts, rumination	M: Fatigue pit: Falling in/digging out H: The pit; Coping with setbacks	Goal-setting review Successes/barriers New goals
14	Review last 8 weeks; skills; dealing with setbacks; new goals	M: Islands: Was on Desert island (passive) looking at the Mainland (100% healthy, unrealistic). Now on Adaptive Coping Island (realistic)

*H, handouts; M, metaphor; RAFT, Reducing Arthritis Fatigue by clinical Teams; T, tools.