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Living Well: Facilitating Positive Health Habits in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Objective: To determine the impact of a structured program on health-related and coping behaviors in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: Persons who are newly diagnosed wtih MS may experience anxiety, depression, and a sense of control on learning of their diagnosis. These stressors may aggrevate or interfere with a person's implementation of positive health-related behaviors. Educational interventions are widely used in other chronic disease models (diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy) to promote positive health behaviors. Setting: University based MS center treating outpatients. Participants: 76 subjects were self-referred or referred by a health care professional. Criteria included diagnosis of MS <5 years and minimal symptoms of disability. Most participants were employed at least part time. Intervention: Participants met weekly for 3 hours a session over 12 weeks. Intervention consisted of didactic presentations, which included symptom management, strategies, nutrition, preventive health practices, fitness activities, and emotional and spiritual wellness exercises. Main Outcome Measures: Measures administered to participants at the beginning and end of the program included the Profile of Mood States, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, Stress Profile Inventory, 3-item spirituality index, Marlow Crowne Social Desirabilty Index, and Taylor Manifest Anxiety scale. a 5-item post-them measure of current health and functioning was specifically developed to evaluate overall program outcomes and effect sizes were determined for practical significance. Results: At the end of the program, participants reported statstically significant improvement (P < .01) in all areas assessed including fatigue, mood, stress, sleep patterns, health related behaviors (e.g. those relating to nutrition and exercise), spirituality and coping strategies after controlling for age, sex and education. Conclusion: Effect sizes inidcated the biggest impact of the program in self-reported overall health, knowledge about MS, reduced stress, and enhanced feelings of empowerment and meaningfulness in life (spirituality index).
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