Project USE (Utilization, Social Support, and Education) is a large scale intervention program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  We are a diverse team of researchers studying the effects of social support and education on the quality of life among people suffering from chronic illnesses. The first phase of our research was a study of people with osteoarthritis (OA).  The results from that study showed that social support and education about one's illness improved people's quality of well-being, psychological adjustment, and health care costs.  These results encouraged us to study the effects of social support and education on people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. We are now conducting this second phase of the study. For titles of posters and papers presented by our project, please click here.