This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mathiowetz, V. G Articles by Luo, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mathiowetz, V. G Articles by Luo, P. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Randomized controlled trial of an energy conservation course for persons with multiple sclerosis

Program in Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota, MMC 388, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA, mathi003{at}umn.edu

Marcia L Finlayson

Department of Occupational Therapy (MC 811), University of Illinois at Chicago, 191 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612-7250, USA

Kathleen M Matuska

Department of Occupational Therapy, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN

Hua Yun Chen

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1906 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Ping Luo

Hines VA Hospital, CSPCC, P.O. Box 5000 (151K), Hines, IL 60141, USA 55415, USA

Objective: To assess the short-term efficacy and effectiveness of a six-week energy conservation course on fatigue impact, quality of life and self-efficacy for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned 169 persons with MS to an immediate intervention group or a delayed control group using a crossover design. The outcome measures: Fatigue Impact Scale, SF-36 Health Survey and Self-Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies were measured before and after courses and no intervention control periods. We performed intent-to-treat analysis and compliers-only analyses using mixed effects analysis of variance models. Results: Taking the energy conservation course had significant effects on reducing the physical and social subscales of Fatigue Impact Scale and on increasing the Vitality subscale of the SF-36 scores compared with not taking the course. Additional subscales were significant depending on methods of analyses. Self-Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies Assessment increased significantly (p<0.05) postcourse compared to precourse. Conclusions: Results support the efficacy and effectiveness of the energy conservation course to decrease fatigue impact, and to increase self-efficacy and some aspects of quality of life.

Key Words: energy effectiveness • fatigue • occupational therapy • outcomes • quality of life • rehabilitation • self-efficacy • work simplification

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Wiles Physiotherapy and related activities in multiple sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis, August 1, 2008; 14(7): 863 - 871. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Sauter, K. Zebenholzer, J. Hisakawa, J. Zeitlhofer, and K. Vass A longitudinal study on effects of a six-week course for energy conservation for multiple sclerosis patients Multiple Sclerosis, May 1, 2008; 14(4): 500 - 505. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Kos, E. Kerckhofs, G. Nagels, M.B. D'hooghe, and S. Ilsbroukx Origin of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Review of the Literature Neurorehabil Neural Repair, February 1, 2008; 22(1): 91 - 100. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Kos, M. Duportail, M. D'hooghe, G. Nagels, and E. Kerckhofs Multidisciplinary fatigue management programme in multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial Multiple Sclerosis, September 1, 2007; 13(8): 996 - 1003. [Abstract] [PDF]