Quality of Life Improvements in MS Following Wellness Program: Brian Hutchinson, PT, MSCS

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“Ultimately, what we want to see is behavior change, in that we want to see people being able to make these lifestyle changes, whether it be in the area of nutrition, exercise, and the like.”

Data from a wellness program for patients with multiple sclerosis were presented at the 2021 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, October 25-28, with investigators noting a ‘stepwise’ change over 3 years of study. Brian Hutchinson, PT, MSCS, director, Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center, Dignity Health, in Sacramento, California, spoke with NeurologyLive on findings, noting that patients reported improvements in quality of life, particularly for the social domains of the Neuro-Quality of Life scale, earlier in year 2. Significant changes in the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Efficacy Scale-10 item and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale were then seen in year 3, Hutchinson said. 

Hutchinson noted the goal of eliciting behavioral changes, which began with improvements in social components that were then followed by changes in internal beliefs about capabilities. Hutchinson noted, however, that this may not ‘bear out’ in the outcome measures they have in place. Some patients with MS had initial hesitancy about participating in these programs, due to fears about others having more ability, but as the program has been underway for a longer stretch of time, participants have noted they feel more comfortable after getting to know each other.

Year 4 data is anticipated to be analyzed and later presented, Hutchinson said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of telemedicine and virtual interaction, data may be skewed or show dips in certain areas, he said.

For more coverage of CMSC 2021, click here.

REFERENCE

Hutchinson B, Schafer J, Sayre L, Malone, T. Effects of weekly participation in a wellness program on people living with multiple sclerosis: A 3-year analysis. Presented at CMSC 2021; October 25-28, 2021; Orlando, FL. Abstract REH02.