The Relationship Between Adaptation to Disease and Self-care Agency Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. The patients with MS have some difficulties in physical, social, and psychological functions. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the adaptation levels of patients with MS to the disease and their self-care agency levels. METHODS: This study used a descriptive design and was carried out in a university hospital's neurology clinic and outpatient clinic between July 2019 and March 2020. The sample size was determined as 258 using the known universe sampling method. Data were collected using the "Adaptation to Chronic Illness Scale," the "Self-Care Agency Scale," and a "Patient Identification Form." Spearmen correlation analysis was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients participating in the study was 41.36 (0.74) years, 74% of them had MS for more than 3 years, 58% had their last attack more than a year ago, and 27% had balance problems. The adaptation levels of patients to the disease (76.79 [0.57]) and their self-care agency (88.42 [1.34]) were slightly higher than the moderate level. A moderate-level, significant, and positive correlation was found between the adaptation level of the patients to the chronic illness and their self-care agency levels (r = 0.310, P = .000). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that there was a moderate-level, significant, and positive correlation between the patients' level of adaptation to MS disease and the level of their self-care agency. We recommend the provision of supportive professional training to patients with MS on their disease.