The effect of electronic education on knowledge of patients with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) could be considered as one of the most common chronic disorders of the central nervous system. However, patient education tasks in this group are a challenge for health care provider team but due to increase in the incidence of MS, a new category of contact, care, and education seems to be useful. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of electronic education and illustrated booklet on knowledge of patients with MS. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental research was carried out on 120 patients with MS from January 2013 to July 2013. All patients attended MS clinic located at the Ayatollah Kashani Hospital conducted to Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center (INRC). Patients were divided randomly into two equal groups: (1) Electronic education (n = 60) and (2) illustrated booklet (n = 60). Participants’ knowledge score was collected according to the researcher-made questionnaire with 40 questions. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test and paired t-test through SPSS (version 11.5) with a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Although there was not any significant difference between the knowledge score of electronic education and illustrated booklet group before intervention (18 ± 2.2 vs. 17.01 ± 3.4(, (P = 0.434, t = −5.64), but there was a significant difference after 2 weeks intervention (35.74 ± 1.4 vs. 33.74 ± 3.4), (P = 0.021, t = −6.64). Paired t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the knowledge level in both groups after intervention as follow: (1) Electronic education (18 ± 2.2 vs. 35.74 ± 1.4), (P = 0.024, t = −7.55) and illustrated booklet (17.01 ± 3.4 vs. 33.74 ± 3.4), (P = 0.003, t = −8.55). CONCLUSION: The electronic educational program applied in this study appears increased knowledge of patients with MS. Therefore, the conveyance of this program to earn time for patient and healthcare provider team is suggested as a valuable and appropriate teaching method.