Evaluation of a Fatigue Self-Management Program for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The program "Minimise Fatigue, Maximise Life: Creating Balance with Multiple Sclerosis" (MFML) was created in New Zealand because of the lack of a fatigue management program for people with MS in that country. This program aims to empower individuals with MS to manage their own symptoms of fatigue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the MFML fatigue self-management program.

Self-report questionnaires were used to measure impact of fatigue (5-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), self-efficacy (MS Self-efficacy Scale), and quality of life (12-item Short Form Health Status Survey [SF-12]) 1 month before (T1), at commencement of (T2) (to investigate the stability of questionnaire scores before the intervention), and at the end of (T3) the 6-week group-based program. Increased self-efficacy and quality of life scores and a decrease in reported impact of fatigue were the anticipated primary outcomes, with participants acting as their own controls.

Twenty-five women (aged 37-63 years) participated. Stability of scores for all the questionnaires was evidenced between T1 and T2. After the intervention (T3), scores showed a significant improvement in self-efficacy and impact of fatigue, with large effect sizes, but no change in either the physical or mental component summary of the SF-12.

Despite the small sample size, this study showed an organized approach to the management of fatigue for people living with MS, and its outcomes demonstrated benefits for participants.