Evaluation of the effectiveness of professionally guided self-care for people with multiple sclerosis living in the community: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of a patient-focused professionally guided self-care programme for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the community.


METHODS
This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
The study was conducted with people with MS living in the community.


METHODS
Two hundred and seventy-eight people with MS were invited to take part in the study. One hundred and eighty-nine people consented to take part (68%). Of these 183 began the study and 169 (92.3%) completed it. Seventy-three individuals were in the intervention group and 96 were in the control group.


METHODS
The intervention comprised discussion of self-care based on client priorities, using an information booklet about self-care.


METHODS
These included the Barthel Index, a measure of mobility, the SF-36, and the Standard Day Dependency Record (SDDR) which measures the need for assistance with daily activities. Assessments were conducted at baseline and again six months later.


RESULTS
Changes in health status were small. However, at follow-up the intervention group had better SF-36 health scores, in mental health (p = 0.04), and vitality (p = 0.05) and considered help with daily activities to be less essential, as measured by the SDDR (p = 0.04), than the control group. Participants in the intervention group had maintained levels of independence at follow-up (p = 0.62) while the control group showed a significant decrease in independence (p= 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This intervention could be a useful aid for health professionals who are supporting people with MS living in the community.
O'Hara
Louise
L
Research Group, NFER-Nelson, Darville House, Windsor, UK. louise.o'hara@nfer-nelson.co.uk
Cadbury
Heather
H
De
Souza Lorraine
SL
Ide
Lorely
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016037:Single-Blind Method