Effects of a Resilience-Building Energy Management Program on Fatigue and Other Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Supported self-management interventions for individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are needed. We examined the effects of a 12-week resilience-building energy management program (called RENEW) for fatigue and other patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: Participants, who had physician-diagnosed SSc, moderate to severe fatigue, and were ≥18 years old, were randomly assigned to RENEW or waitlist control in a 2:1 ratio. The RENEW intervention included an educational website/application plus nine virtual peer-led health coaching sessions. The primary outcome was change in the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale. Secondary outcomes were change in Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures of pain interference and depressive symptoms and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Multiple imputation was conducted; linear mixed models were used to assess group differences. A three-way interaction with group, time, and SSc duration was examined in each model.

Results: Among 173 participants (mean ± SD age 54.5 ± 11.7 years; 93% female, 85% White), 47% had diffuse cutaneous SSc; 57% were ≤5 years from diagnosis. At 12 weeks, compared to controls, RENEW participants had a clinically meaningful fatigue improvement (β = -4.7; 95% confidence interval -6.7 to -2.7; P < 0.001) and improvement in all secondary outcomes. Among RENEW participants, individuals with shorter disease duration had greater improvements in fatigue at 12 weeks.

Conclusion: An mHealth supported self-management intervention improved fatigue and other outcomes, particularly in newly diagnosed patients. This program may be broadly scalable for SSc symptom management.