Table 2.
Demographic characteristics of in Multiple Sclerosis patients in the intervention and control groups
| Demographic variable | Intervention group | Control group | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (%) | Mean (%) | |||
| Age (years) | Below 30 | 3 (6) | 6 (14) | P = 0.08 |
| 30–39 | 26 (59) | 13 (31) | ||
| 40–49 | 9 (20) | 16 (38) | ||
| above 50 | 6 (15) | 7 (17) | ||
| Duration of disease (years) | 0–5 | 6 (14) | 9 (21) | P = 0.35 |
| 5–10 | 7 (16) | 8 (19) | ||
| 10–15 | 14 (32) | 12 (29) | ||
| 15–20 | 11 (25) | 9 (21) | ||
| 20 and more | 6 (14) | 4 (10) | ||
| Gender | Male | 23 (52) | 19 (45) | P = 0.51 |
| Female | 21 (48) | 23 (55) | ||
| Marital status | Single | 18 (41) | 10 (24) | P = 0.23 |
| Married | 44 (55) | 30 (71) | ||
| Divorced | 2 (4) | 2 (5) | ||
| Education level | Below diploma | 5 (11) | 3 (7) | P = 0.67 |
| Diploma | 15 (34) | 17 (43) | ||
| University | 24 (55) | 20 (50) | ||
| Occupation | General laborer | 4 (9) | 2 (5) | P = 0.90 |
| Office worker | 16 (36) | 14 (33) | ||
| Housekeeper | 10 (23) | 13 (31) | ||
| Student | 3 (7) | 1 (2) | ||
| Retired | 4 (9) | 4 (10) | ||
| Unemployed | 4 (9) | 5 (12) | ||
| Others | 3 (7) | 3 (7) | ||
| Economic status | Poor | 12 (27) | 14 (33) | P = 0.71 |
| Moderate | 24 (55) | 22 (52) | ||
| Good | 8 (18) | 6 (15) | ||
| Health insurance | Yes | 44 (100) | 40 (95) | P = 0.24 |
| No | 0 (0) | 2 (5) | ||
| Supplementary insurance | Yes | 22 (50) | 7 (17) | P = 0.001 |
| No | 22 (50) | 35 (83) | ||
| Income adequacy | Yes | 19 (44) | 19 (45) | P = 0.92 |
| No | 24 (56) | 23 (55) | ||
| First symptom of disease | Vision impairment | 18 (40.9) | 8 (19) | P = 0.001 |
| Lack of balance | 4 (9.1) | 12 (29) | ||
| Movement disorder | 4 (9.1) | 16 (38) | ||
| Sensory disorder | 15 (34.1) | 2 (5) | ||
| Others | 3 (6.8) | 4 (9.5) | ||
| Number of hospitalization | None | 18 (42) | 26 (60) | P = 0.17 |
| Once | 14 (32) | 11 (26) | ||
| Twice | 7 (16) | 2 (5) | ||
| More than twice | 5 (12) | 3 (7) | ||
| Number of disease relapse | None | 16 (36) | 27 (64) | P = 0.06 |
| Once | 12 (27) | 7 (17) | ||
| Twice | 9 (20) | 3 (7) | ||
| More than twice | 7 (16) | 5 (12) | ||
| Debilitating problem | Fatigue | 12 (27) | 7 (18) | P = 0.06 |
| tiredness | 11 (25) | 4 (11) | ||
| Muscle stiffness | 11 (25) | 4 (11) | ||
| Vision impairment | 3 (7) | 6 (16) | ||
| Lack of balance | 7 (16) | 11 (29) | ||
| Other diseases | Yes | 10 (23) | 18 (43) | P = 0.07 |
| No | 34 (78) | 24 (57) | ||
| Taking other medications | Yes | 9 (20) | 16 (38) | P = 0.072 |
| No | 35 (80) | 26 (62) | ||
| Smoking | Yes | 16 (38) | 10 (24) | P = 0.16 |
| No | 26 (62) | 32 (76) | ||
| Getting support from other family members | Yes | 18 (42) | 9 (21) | P = 0.06 |
| No | 25 (57) | 33 (79) | ||