“Learning to you know respect and love myself and put myself first is not a selfish thing”

Quote from a participant in the pilot iHOPE PCOS programme

What is the HOPE programme?

We developed an evidence-based self-management programme tailored for PCOS, and tested it with promising results, including improvements in depression, anxiety and mental well-being. @HOPE4TC

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HOPE is an evidence-based self-management programme that supports people with long term health conditions to cope more effectively. That includes eating well, staying physically active, and following any necessary medical treatments, as well as managing stress, dealing with the emotional impact of their condition and planning for their future health. There is a suite of HOPE programmes tailored for different populations, run by Hope for the Community, a community interest spin-off company at Coventry University.

What is special about the new PCOS iHOPE programme?

We developed a version of the HOPE programme tailored for PCOS, by doing qualitative research with PCOS patients, the PCOS advocacy organisation Verity and NHS health professionals, to find out why patients with PCOS might find self-management a challenge. We then asked patients and health professionals at a PCOS conference to vote on priorities to include in the new programme. We adapted the tried and tested HOPE course framework to include PCOS specific topics and activities. Verity helped us recruit women with PCOS to take part in a pilot study evaluating the impact of the new programme.

Want to know more?

Find out more in Carol Percy’s post on https://blog.verity-pcos.org.uk/2021/09/18/ihope-pcos-programme/ September 18 2021, including answers to the following questions:

The iHOPE PCOS programme is described as being co-created – what does this mean?

How is the programme delivered?

What do you think makes the programme effective?

What were the results of the pilot testing done on the iHOPE PCOS programme?

Would you recommend the programme to everyone with PCOS?

Why was this a passion project for you?

Biography: Dr Carol Percy is an Assistant Professor in psychology who works with the team at Hope for the Community to support patients with PCOS. To find out more about the HOPE programme, please visit www.h4c.org.uk/

Photo by CARL HUNLEY JR on Unsplash