Value of a confidant relationship in psychosocial care of people with multiple sclerosis

WE EXPLORED THE EFFECTS OF LIVING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) ON A PRIMARY RELATIONSHIP: that between the person with MS and his or her closest confidant. We anticipated that this would enhance understanding of the meaning of psychosocial support from the perspective of people with MS. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, we interviewed 33 people with MS and the people they identified as providing psychosocial support to them (their confidants). The results were presented to a range of health-care workers in two focus groups to explore their responses. Two additional focus groups were held with the participants with MS to add depth and clarity to the findings. Three major themes emerged from the interviews: 1) People with MS do not want to be defined by their condition and want to live as normal a life as possible. 2) The confidant helps to maintain this sense of normality. 3) Both the person with MS and the confidant value the relationship and together try to manage the realities of living with MS. The findings indicate the need to raise awareness among MS care professionals about the value of the confidant relationship. Training professionals to discuss emotional issues with clients and increasing collaboration with agencies that provide emotional support will facilitate a more holistic approach to care.