Effect of patient-centered and family-centered self-care education program on the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis: a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND: Performing self-care behaviors education improves the quality of life of MS patients and reduces their fatigue. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of patient-centered and family-centered self-care training programs on the quality of life and fatigue of patients with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study that was conducted on the MS patients referred to the Iranian MS Association. Sampling was done by convenience method from November 2017 to September 2018. To create a random sequence in the three groups, blocks of nine were used. The control group received no intervention but the intervention groups 1 and 2 received the desired training in the form of workshop with the difference that in the intervention group 2, the patient participated in the training sessions along with one of his/her family members. The phone call follow-up was continued for 8 weeks after the last session. The questionnaire of quality of life in patients with MS (MSQOL-54), fatigue scale (FIS) and demographic information form were used for data collection. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS-16 statistical software, using descriptive (Mean and Standard deviation) and statistical statistics (paired t-test, Analysis of variance and Bonferroni). RESULT: A statistically significant difference in the mean scores of quality of life(53/16 ± 15/19 vs 56/03 ± 14/40 vs 52/48 ± 21/20)(P < 0.001) and fatigue(50/08 ± 3/28 vs 46/54 ± 28/69 vs 56/11 ± 27/93) (P < 0.001) was observed between both patient-centered and family-centered groups and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the importance and role of the family and nurses in the care and education of patients with multiple sclerosis, it is possible to improve the quality of life and reduce their fatigue by providing self-care training packages to patients and their families.