Assessment of Psychosocial Assistance Needs and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Ana Staseviciene
Master in Public Health
The chairman of MS Assotiation of Vilnius, Lithuania
SUMMARY
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating central nervous disease characterized by broad spectrum of physical and psychosocial impairments. The objective of the thesis – examine the psychosocial help needs and the Health related quality of life of the people with Multiple Sclerosis. Goals: to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory for patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Lithuania. To analyze in accordance with it the psychological and physical health, to reveal the challenges and difficulties encountered by patients and to establish effective psychosocial help needs.
Methodics. In order to assess the psychometric qualities of the questionnaire, an analytic research with an improbable sample was carried out, during which the instantaneous anonymous patient survey was employed, by using the quality of life inventory adapted for patients living in Lithuania. The research was carried out on May-December of 2018. 163 individuals with multiple sclerosis participated in it. As the patients not living in Lithuania were eliminated from the study, the data of 157 interviewees is suitable for analysis. The credibility of the survey was evaluated in respect of the inner compatibility coefficient (Cronbach’s Alpha). The research data was analyzed by statistic – descriptive and comparative methods. The normal distribution of quantitative measures was verified by the Kolmogorov and Smirnov test. The Data in each research is considered to be statistically relevant when p < 0,05.
Results. Following the methodological requirements, the English quality of life questionnaire was translated to Lithuanian, culturally adapted and the final Lithuanian version was prepared. Using the data storage and analysis program “SPSS Statistics 25”, the internal reliability of questionnaire was calculated; Kronbach ɑ coefficient is 0,79, which shows that the internal reliability of the survey adapted for the Lithuanian cultural environment is rather good. While analyzing the subjective evaluation of the health of the interviewed patients, a statistically reliable correlation between the psychosocial factors and the physical and psychological health was noted. The more the cognitive fatigue is felt, the less the person is energetic (r = -0,610 p < 0,05), feels the fullness of life (r=- 0,391 p < 0,05) and assesses worse his general health (r=- 0,547 p < 0,05).
Conclusions. Quality of life inventory, translated to Lithuanian, is suitable to research the multiple sclerosis patients. The internal stability of the life areas of the questionnaire was assessed. While analyzing the subjective health evaluation, significant connections between the physical and psychological health and social support were observed.
