Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the online version of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) on physical activity and depressive symptoms in individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Mexico and Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods: Quasi-experimental study with a non-probability sample of 114 people with NCDs, recruited by invitation in Mexico and by convenience in Peru. The participants were assigned to intervention (n = 85) and control (n = 29) groups. The Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the Physical Activity Scale were used to assess the outcomes. Measurements were taken before and after the intervention. The CDSMP comprises six sessions that take place once per week and last 2.5 h each.
Results: The intervention group showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and an increase in physical activity (PA) at the end of the program. In contrast, the control group showed no significant improvement in depression and presented a significant decrease in PA.
Keywords: depression; non-communicable diseases; physical activity; self-management.