International Journal of MS Care

BACKGROUND: Inpatient rehabilitation improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the obtained improvements decline once people return home. The challenge is to find ways to preserve the beneficial effects for the long term. We investigated whether monthly telecoaching after discharge would enhance the long-term carryover of improvements. METHODS: We conducted a 1-year exploratory study with 2 delivery methods: telephone coaching and web-based coaching...

BACKGROUND: The perception that one is at increased risk of interpersonal victimization or violence can deleteriously affect community participation and quality of life. Race, sex, and disability status, often associated with use of an assistive mobility device (AD), are known correlates of perceived risk of victimization; however, almost no research has explored how these variables intersect for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), and none have sought to identify potential risk and protective factors...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of an occupation-based intervention (OBI) on dexterity and occupational performance for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to gather preliminary efficacy data. METHODS: In this feasibility study, 2 women with MS participated in 12 OBI sessions that focused on increasing upper extremity function. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, 9-Hole Peg Test, Expanded Disability Status Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used as outcome measures...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition leading to significant disability and challenges to quality of life. To slow progression and reduce relapses, it is critical to rapidly initiate disease-modifying therapy (DMT) after diagnosis. Patient demographics may play a role in timely DMT initiation. Financial barriers may also result in delays in DMT access. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study included patients seen at a neurology clinic at a large academic medical center for an initial evaluation of MS between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022...

BACKGROUND: Comorbidities negatively impact the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Identifying them is essential, as they represent potentially modifiable prognostic factors that can adversely influence the disease course. However, comorbidity prevalence remains underexplored in certain populations, including in individuals in Brazil. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we describe the frequency of comorbidities and their correlation with MS disability progression in a Brazilian population by reviewing the medical records of patients from a single MS center in Brazil...

BACKGROUND: The John A. Schafer, MD Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center (MSAC) conducts wellness programs that include exercise, cognitive stimulation, education, emotional support, and socialization for people with multiple sclerosis and their care partners. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are collected annually. Four-year outcomes encompass the COVID-19 pandemic when some of these programs were offered virtually. METHODS: Beginning in 2017, baseline data were collected for 110 MSAC day wellness program participants through PRO measures...

BACKGROUND: The study of the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR) and how the symptoms and needs of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) interplay with the diversity of MDR interventions is still a conundrum, often referred to as a black box. METHODS: We conducted a partial crossover randomized controlled trial with follow-ups at 1 (discharge), 6, and 12 months. Based on their rehabilitation goals, each patient was categorized into 1 of 5 main focus areas (MFAs) prior to admission: Resilience, Cognitive Function, Energy, Physical Function, and Personal Needs...

BACKGROUND: Foot drop in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly leads to decreased mobility and quality of life (QOL). Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the peroneal nerve can improve the gait of people with foot drop, yet various barriers restrict widespread use. The purpose of this case series was to examine the feasibility of a telerehabilitation-monitored FES device and report changes in functional mobility and QOL in people with moderate MS-related disability. METHODS: FES use was progressed over 8 weeks via 3 telerehabilitation sessions...

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Patient-Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure (PRISM-TR). METHODS: Expert opinions and the forward-back translation method were used for linguistic validation. Cronbach α and test-retest analysis were performed for reliability analysis. Correlations between the PRISM-TR and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were assessed...

Timely diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a challenge due to factors such as prompt identification of symptoms and consequent delays in hospital visits and treatment initiation. In part to address this challenge, an expert scientific advisory panel of clinical nurse practitioners (CNPs) from different European nations was convened by Viatris on October 25, 2022, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This meeting was an interactive discussion to understand the role of clinical nurse practitioners in MS management...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) have complex care requirements and are more likely to use long-term facilities. This study determined the associations between mood and social care-related quality of life (SCRQOL), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and examined the association between HRQOL and SCRQOL. METHODS: Baseline data from a cohort study were used. Patients completed questionnaires, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT), and EuroQOL 5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L) and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS)...

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is an important, modifiable, environmental risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) with a relevant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to assess the use of tobacco in individuals with MS from Latin America (LATAM), and its impact on HRQOL. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a LATAM web-based survey. Demographics, social and clinical data, information on physical disability, and HRQOL scores were collected using the MS Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A)...

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to approximately half of the working population in the United Kingdom being unable to work temporarily. This study aims to understand the employment needs and experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UK during this period. METHODS: Multiple methods were used, including an online survey and follow-up interviews with people with MS who were employed prior to the start of the pandemic restrictions in March 2020...

BACKGROUND: Black people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a worse disease course and higher rates of progression than White people with MS. Contributing factors to health disparities are understudied. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from the electronic medical records of 500 people with MS treated between 2013 and 2022 at a university comprehensive MS center in a southern state. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between 2 disability outcomes (ie, low vs high Expanded Disability Status Score [EDSS] and ambulatory assistance [AMB] requirements) and age, sex, body mass index (BMI), MS type, disease duration, hypertension status, diabetes status, smoking status, adjusted gross income, and health insurance type for Black people with MS and White people with MS...

BACKGROUND: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience mobility impairments that elevate fall risk, increasing the need to identify clinical measures that accurately predict falls. Backward walking (BW) better differentiates fallers from nonfallers in MS. However, no studies have reported the measurement properties of the backward walking Timed 25-Foot Walk (B-T25-FW) and BW metrics, like BW velocity. Additionally, it is unknown whether BW can predict future falls in MS or its link to activity levels...

BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 quarantine required everyone to make lifestyle changes, it may have had especially profound implications for individuals who experience multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue. Individuals with MS who suffer from fatigue are at risk of worsening symptoms and already predisposed to inactivity and social isolation. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 national quarantine and related restrictions on mental, emotional, and physical fatigue in persons with MS in the United States...

Spasticity is common among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can have negative implications. Casting is a treatment intervention that is used to manage spasticity. The use of casting has been studied in individuals with brain injury and stroke, but no publications were found for its use in persons with MS. An individual with MS with upper extremity spasticity participated in long-arm serial casting, bivalve cast fabrication, and additional targeted therapeutic interventions over the course of 17 visits...

BACKGROUND: Upper extremity strength and function are rarely assessed in routine multiple sclerosis (MS) care. This study aimed to evaluate hand muscle strength and functionality in individuals with MS and investigate correlations with upper extremity function, cognitive status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and balance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 45 consecutive individuals with MS between the ages of 18 and 65. Upper limb motor strength was evaluated using a hand grip strength dynamometer...