Home study may be brought into question when it comes to getting a professional degree, but it may prove beneficial to the elderly and otherwise home-bound.

A study of 178 middle-aged and elderly patients in Chicago demonstrated that a home-based wellness program was just as effective as attending a wellness class. The patients, with chronic medical conditions that included cancer, diabetes, hypertension and arthritis, reported a better quality of life after receiving the at-home instruction. After watching videotapes followed up by phone calls from course administrators, patients said they experienced fewer symptoms, slept better and were not as depressed.

The study was led by Bruce Rybrczyk, Ph.D., of Rush University. An important aspect of the study, he said, is that the home course compared favorably to a classroom program that included as many as eight 2-hour sessions. It also was less costly and potentially provided greater accessibility, he said