Table 2 Elements of the OPTIMAL Intervention

Breakdown of OPTIMAL Programme

OPTIMAL has the following elements:

1. Weekly group meetings for a six-week period held in local community health centres

2. Occupational Therapy focus

3. Peer support

4. Goal setting and prioritization based on patient preferences

OT interventions to support patient self-management used in the groups include:

• Self-management

• Fatigue and energy management

• Managing stress and anxiety and maintaining mental health and well-being

• Keeping physically active

• Healthy eating

• Managing medications

• Effective communication strategies

• Goal setting

One of the weekly sessions incorporates education on physical activity delivered by a physiotherapist and another incorporates medicines management, delivered by a pharmacist