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A health profile of adults with multiple sclerosis living in the community

Department of Social Medicine, Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran rvazirinejad{at}yahoo.co.uk

J Lilley

Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, Queens Medical Centre, Medical School, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK

C Ward

Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, Queens Medical Centre, Medical School, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK

Objective

To describe the frequency of impairments, disabilities, and related services used in a community sample of adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) to estimate the service needs of this population.

Methods

A community-based postal survey conducted using a self-completion questionnaire consisting of MSQOL-54 questionnaire, Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) and some demographic items as well as items to ask about MS-related symptoms and/or problems and using available services. Adults with a diagnosis of MS confirmed by a neurologist were recruited via primary care services in Southern Derbyshire, UK.

Results

Questionnaires were sent to 310 adults with MS and 201 completed questionnaires were returned – a response rate of 65%. The most commonly reported symptoms and/or problems were fatigue, sexual problems, urinary problems, and painful muscle spasms. Most respondents reported at least one contact with their general practitioner (GP) during the previous 12 months. However, contacts with other services potentially able to alleviate specific symptoms and/or problems were low.

Conclusions

The findings suggest under-use of existing health care services by those who experience potentially treatable symptoms and/or problems associated with MS. More needs to be done to raise awareness among people with MS and their carers about the services available to them. Given the very high proportion of people with MS known to make contact with primary care services, GPs have a vital role in providing this information.

Key Words: disability • health services • multiple sclerosis • unmet need

This version was published on September 1, 2008

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 14, No. 8, 1099-1105 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458508092264


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