A health profile of adults with multiple sclerosis living in the community.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the frequency of impairments, disabilities, and related services used in a community sample of adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) to estimate the service needs of this population.


METHODS
A community-based postal survey conducted using a self-completion questionnaire consisting of MSQOL-54 questionnaire, Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) and some demographic items as well as items to ask about MS-related symptoms and/or problems and using available services. Adults with a diagnosis of MS confirmed by a neurologist were recruited via primary care services in Southern Derbyshire, UK.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were sent to 310 adults with MS and 201 completed questionnaires were returned - a response rate of 65%. The most commonly reported symptoms and/or problems were fatigue, sexual problems, urinary problems, and painful muscle spasms. Most respondents reported at least one contact with their general practitioner (GP) during the previous 12 months. However, contacts with other services potentially able to alleviate specific symptoms and/or problems were low.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest under-use of existing health care services by those who experience potentially treatable symptoms and/or problems associated with MS. More needs to be done to raise awareness among people with MS and their carers about the services available to them. Given the very high proportion of people with MS known to make contact with primary care services, GPs have a vital role in providing this information.
Vazirinejad
R
R
Department of Social Medicine, Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. rvazirinejad@yahoo.co.uk
Lilley
J
J
Ward
C
C
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology