| Participants |
People with MS recruited via an MS workshop, physicians, and an MS newsletter advert.
Inclusion: (a) MS
Number approached not known, 27 randomised, number analysed not known.
Type of MS not stated, mean age (range) = 44 yrs (18‐54), 72% female, mean (range) disease duration = 3.5 yrs (0.5‐7), mean (range) Modified Disability Status Scale = 3.4 (0‐9), |
| Interventions |
Intervention (number randomised and number analysed not stated): MS‐REHAB program: 2 hrs once per week for 4 weeks. Group‐based therapy run by a nurse and held at a College of Nursing. Therapy developed from the literature and experience, and based on Bandura's Social Cognitive theory with an emphasis on self‐efficacy. The programme aimed to increase self‐efficacy for adjustment behaviours, and increase outcome expectations. This, it is theorised, will lead to increased use of adjustment behaviours, and hence increased adjustment to MS, increased symptom management, well‐being and activities. Behaviour acquisition using verbal persuasion, role modelling, performance accomplishment and vicarious experience. Week1:‐disease process, influencing factors, stretching and exercise, pharmacological and non‐pharmacological managment of symptoms, communicating with health professional, stress and relaxation. Week 2:‐ relaxation, diet, strategies for managing fatigue, exercise, stretching. Week 3:‐psychosocial factors, reaction of others, employment, sources of help, sleep, exercise, stretching, cognitive dysfunction. Week 4: Cognitive dysfunction, memory, impact on life, medication. Homework tasks used throughout.
Control group (number randomised and number analysed not known): Not given MS‐REHAB program. |
| Outcomes |
Measured at baseline, immediately post‐treatment, short‐term follow‐up, medium‐term follow‐up and long‐term follow‐up (10 occasions in total up to 4 years, although exact timing not clear). Primary outcomes: Psychological function measured using the total Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (modified by dropping 2 subscales), a summated total adjustment score (derived from 3 visual analogue scores of psychological, social and physical adjustment), and the Self‐Efficacy for Adjustment Behaviours Scale. Secondary outcomes: Pain using a visual analogue scale, fatigue using a visual analogue scale. Not used: a summated pain, fatigue and sleep score based on 3 visual analogue scales. |
