One-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial of an energy conservation course for persons with multiple sclerosis.
In this randomized controlled trial, 169 persons with multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to an immediate intervention group or a delayed control group using a crossover design. The outcome measures (Fatigue Impact Scale and SF-36 Health Survey) were measured four times before and after courses. This study investigated whether the immediate benefits of a 6-week, community-based, energy conservation course for persons with multiple sclerosis were maintained at 1-year follow-up. We performed intent-to-treat and compliers-only analyses using mixed effects analysis of variance models. Results showed that the beneficial effects were maintained 1-year postcourse compared with immediate postcourse. In addition, there were significant improvements in all three subscales of the Fatigue Impact Scale and in four subscales of SF-36 Health Survey 1-year postcourse compared with precourse. Together, these results provide strong evidence that the beneficial effects of the energy conservation course taught by occupational therapists were maintained up to 1-year postcourse.
Mathiowetz
Virgil G
VG
Program in Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. mathi003@umn.edu
Matuska
Kathleen M
KM
Finlayson
Marcia L
ML
Luo
Ping
P
Chen
Hua Yun
HY
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006804:Ergonomics; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012917:Social Adjustment