The effect of peer education based on Pender’s health promotion model on quality of life, stress management and self-efficacy of patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: As a chronic, disabling disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) has challenged healthcare systems in many ways. MS adversely affects patients’ quality of life and self-efficacy and results in psychological stress. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of peer education based on Pender’s health promotion model on the quality of life, stress management, and self-efficacy of patients with MS in the south of Iran. METHODS: The present study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 90 patients were divided into group A intervention group 45 patients) and group B (control group 45 patients). The intervention was peer education based on Pender’s health promotion model. Data were collected using the MS Quality of Life Scale, the Self-efficacy Scale, and the Stress Management Scale. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22. To analyze the data, we used descriptive statistics. Thus, inferential statistics applied included Chi-square, independent-samples t-test, and Repeated measures (ANOVA). The significance level was considered p < 0.05. RESULTS: The quality of life, self-efficacy, and stress management mean scores of the intervention group as measured immediately and 3 months after intervention were significant (p < 0.05). As for the control group, however, the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Peer education based on Pender’s health promotion model improves patients’ quality of life, stress management, and self-efficacy with multiple sclerosis. Nursing managers and health system policymakers can use this educational approach for patients with other chronic diseases to enhance their quality of life and self-efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT registration number: IRCT20190917044802N3.