Exploring the Clinical Impact of Health and Wellness Coaching in MS Care: Cassandra Moore, MPH, CPH

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

“Health and wellness coaches really support people in achieving their self-directed goals and behavioral changes that are informed by any treatment plans prescribed by the rest of the professional health care team.”

Health coaching, which focuses on improving self-management and overall well-being, has been explored as a supportive approach for patients with living multiple sclerosis (MS). Through regular, goal-oriented conversations, health coaches have the ability to work alongside patients to help them with addressing some of the physical, mental, and behavioral aspects of living with the autoimmune disease. Recent research has suggested that health coaching may contribute to improvements in areas such as self-efficacy, quality of life, and symptom management, although the extent of these benefits can vary.^1,2

In clinical practice, health coaching can be offered as a complementary resource in combination with traditional medical care by helping patients coordinate and integrate various aspects of their treatment plans. For patients with MS, coaching may provide additional support in managing the disease’s complex symptoms and making lifestyle adjustments. The effectiveness of health coaching can depend on a variety of factors such as patient readiness, engagement, and the timing of the intervention in the disease course. Further research could be needed to grasp a better understanding of the role and impact of health coaching in MS care.

At the 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, held May 28-31, 2025, in Phoenix, Cassandra Moore, MPH, CPH, associate vice president of strategy and innovation at the National MS Society, presented a talk on the power of health coaching in MS.³ Following the meeting, Moore sat down with NeurologyLive^® to further discuss the growing evidence supporting health and wellness coaching for individuals with MS. In the interview, Moore shared firsthand experiences from coaching cohorts, where participants reported increased self-efficacy and meaningful behavioral changes. She underscored the value of coaching in bridging gaps between specialties, enhancing care coordination, and empowering patients with MS.

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REFERENCES
1. Boehmer KR, Álvarez-Villalobos NA, Barakat S, et al. The impact of health and wellness coaching on patient-important outcomes in chronic illness care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Patient Educ Couns. 2023;117:107975. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2023.107975
2. Kivelä K, Elo S, Kyngäs H, Kääriäinen M. The effects of health coaching on adult patients with chronic diseases: a systematic review. Patient Educ Couns. 2014;97(2):147-157. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.026
3. Moore C. The Power of Health Coaching. Presented at: 2025 CMSC Annual Meeting; May 28-31; Phoenix, AZ. Thriving with MS: Harnessing Wellness Research & the Power of Health Coaching.