9 Self-Management Modules 

Each of the 9 modules gives information about a different area and teaches self-management techniques that you can implement at home. Take our short self-management quiz! Based on your answers to the quiz, we will be able to recommend the modules that are most relevant for you. 

Expert Introduction to Module

SPIN modules generally begin with a video of a health expert who is well-known in the scleroderma community. The health expert welcomes users to the module, gives a brief overview of the topic the module addresses (e.g., symptoms, physiological changes), and describes the module content. A full transcript is available below the video.

Patient Introduction to Module

Modules also include a patient video introduction. The patient describes their experience with the problem addressed by the module, including topics such as symptoms, impact on their daily life, emotional burden, and their experience using some of the self-management strategies provided in the module. A full transcript is available below the video.

Educational Background

This section provides a text overview of the module topic along with diagrams, images, accordion lists, and other visually-appealing elements. Topics covered in this section might include: recognizing warning signs, common symptoms, physical causes, diagnosis, what kind of healthcare providers manage the condition, and common treatments. SPIN modules do not provide medical advice and always emphasize that patients should develop personalized treatment plans with their healthcare provider(s).

General Strategies for Managing the Condition and Symptoms

This section consists of general self-management strategies to help manage a condition or specific problem. These strategies might include recommendations for diet, sleep, activity levels, specific rehabilitation exercises (if applicable), and what users should avoid (e.g., smoking).

Activities & Interactive Worksheets

Most SPIN modules include one or more activities with text and video instructions and interactive worksheets.

Many activities involve a tracking component in which users are asked to monitor certain variables. This information may be used to assess potential triggers for symptoms (e.g., stress, hours of sleep, smoking), help users manage relevant behaviours and health indicators (e.g., sodium intake, fluid intake, weight), or track key symptoms (e.g., dizzy spells, breathlessness, fatigue) to report to their healthcare provider.

Other activities are designed to help users manage specific symptoms. For example, Activity Pacing is a 3-step method to manage fatigue by developing a personalized activity and rest schedule. Users are given detailed examples and common challenges are addressed (e.g., “I got so involved in the activity that I lost track of time”). Some activities (e.g., relaxation techniques) include video and audio instructions.

Interactive worksheets come in a variety of formats and allow users to fill out worksheets online, save multiple versions of worksheets, and print them out. Users can always access new and saved versions of all worksheets on their My Worksheets page.

In the Sleep Diary activity, users use a worksheet to track sleep quality and habits.

In Activity Pacing, users are given detailed instructions to help them establish a baseline level of activity, which is used to develop a personalized activity schedule.

SPIN’s Relaxation activity includes audio instructions for 4 different relaxation techniques.

Module Summary

The last section of each module generally contains a bullet-point recap of what users learned in the module. If applicable, users are then prompted to set a goal related to the module content.

My Goals Feature (Goal Setting & Progress Tracking)

The SPIN Self-Management Program includes a section on learning how to set realistic, measurable goals and to track and achieve them. The My Goals page allows users to (1) create goals relating to their activities, (2) share their goals with family and friends via email to enhance motivation, and (3) input and track their progress online or on a printable worksheet.

Patient Stories Feature

The SPIN Self-Management Program also includes a section with videos of patients talking about how scleroderma has affected their lives, from diagnosis to present, and what they have done to cope. These patients represent a variety of different backgrounds and experiences with scleroderma.