Table 1.
Demographics of the focus group (n=21). Participants were able to select more than one multiple sclerosis (MS) community role and MS disease course.
| Demographics | Values | |
| Gender, n (%) | ||
|
|
Male | 6 (29) |
|
|
Female | 15 (71) |
| Education level, n (%) | ||
|
|
Secondary school or less | 5 (24) |
|
|
Occupational certificate or diploma | 8 (38) |
|
|
Bachelor's degree | 4 (19) |
|
|
Postgraduate degree | 4 (19) |
| MSacommunity roles, n (%) | ||
|
|
Person with MS | 13 (62) |
|
|
Family or friend | 6 (29) |
|
|
Caregiver | 3 (14) |
|
|
Allied health practitioner | 2 (10) |
|
|
Advocate | 6 (29) |
|
|
UTASb staff member | 2 (10) |
|
|
Multiple Sclerosis Limited employee | 1 (5) |
|
|
Volunteer | 1 (5) |
| Disease course, n (%) | ||
|
|
RRMSc | 9 (82) |
|
|
SPMSd | 1 (9) |
|
|
PPMSe | 0 (0) |
|
|
PRMSf | 0 (0) |
|
|
I am not sure | 2 (18) |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 51.14 (11.33) | |
| Disease duration, mean (SD) | 13.18 (6.24) | |
| Number of roles in the MS community, mean (SD) | 1.62 (0.92) | |
aMS: multiple sclerosis.
bUTAS: University of Tasmania.
cRRMS: relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
dSPMS: secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
ePPMS: primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
fPRMS: progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis.