The Feasibility of a Web-Based Educational Lifestyle Program for People With Multiple Sclerosis

A Randomized Controlled Trial

Bibliographic Data

ID22068042
AuthorsWilliam Bevens (0000-0001-6944-6500, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author), Tracey Weiland (0000-0002-4053-5507, The University of Melbourne), Tracey J Weiland, Kathleen Gray (0000-0002-8213-4525), Sandra Neate (0000-0002-0761-9848, The University of Melbourne), Sandra L Neate, Nupur Nag (0000-0002-0271-0781, The University of Melbourne), Steve Simpson (0000-0001-6521-3056, University of Tasmania), Steve Simpson-Yap, Jeanette C Reece (0000-0003-2897-0271, The University of Melbourne), Jeanette Reece, Maggie Yu (0000-0002-2022-4939, The University of Melbourne), George A Jelinek (0000-0001-6157-0910, The University of Melbourne)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages852214-852214
Publication date2022-04-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.852214
PMID35570898
OpenAlexW4285740817
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited53

Background: Modifiable lifestyle factors are important to aid people with multiple sclerosis in the self-management of their disease. Current self-management programs are limited by their face-to-face mode of delivery but there is immense potential with the internet to deliver these programs effectively. Objective: The aims of this study are to assess the feasibility of a digitalized educational lifestyle self-management program for people with MS. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, people with MS were randomly allocated to participate in a 6-week tailored web-based educational lifestyle program or 6-week generic standard-care educational course, and were blinded to their allocation. Participants were recruited through multiple sclerosis (MS) Societies in four countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The primary outcome was to assess acceptability of the program defined as percentage completion of all modules at 6-weeks post-course commencement. Secondary outcomes included evaluating participant responses to the follow-up survey across three domains: accessibility, learnability, and desirability. Results: Thirty-five participants from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US completed the baseline survey and were randomized. Four participants were deemed ineligible due to incomplete baseline data; therefore, nine out of 15 and eight out of 16 participants completed 100% of the course in the intervention and standard-care arm courses, respectively. Conclusions: the internet according to our a priori targets of >40% of participants in the intervention arm, and >25% in the control arm to completing 100% of the course. It is therefore appropriate to evaluate this intervention further in a large, randomized controlled trial. Trial registration: This study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ID: ACTRN12621000245897)

Educational program · Family medicine · Physical therapy · Program evaluation · Randomized controlled trial · Self-management · The Internet · Web application · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies · Nursing · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access