title: Effect of a residential retreat promoting lifestyle modifications on health-related quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a residential retreat on promoting lifestyle modification for the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal cohort study of adults with self-reported MS who voluntarily attended a five-day residential retreat in rural Victoria, Australia. Participants were asked to complete the MSQOL-54 questionnaire just prior to the retreat, and at one year and 2.5 years post-retreat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 188 participants 109 (58%) completed the questionnaire. The cohort showed a significant improvement in HRQOL at one year and 2.5 year follow-up. After one year, overall quality of life (QOL) domain had increased from 73.4 to 81.7 (P<0.001), physical health composite from 66.2 to 76.4 (P=0.001) and mental health composite from 73.7 to 83.6 (P<0.001) in the subset of 76 with data at both time points. After 2.5 years, overall QOL had increased from 68.4 to 71.7 (P=0.03), physical health 59.7 to 70.0 (P=0.01), and mental health 66.9 to 76.6 (P<0.01) in the subset of 44 with data at both time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQOL usually deteriorates over time in people with MS. Attendance at a residential retreat promoting lifestyle modification appears to have a significant short-medium term positive effect on QOL for people with MS. General practitioners caring for people with MS should consider the potential benefits of this approach in overall management.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Practice Innovation Centre, St Vincent's Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle Pui-Ming
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jelinek
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Weiland
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mackinlay
authors.forename: Sherelle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dye
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gawler
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006294:Health Resorts; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014739:Victoria