Development of Fewer Falls in MS-An Online, Theory-Based, Fall Prevention Self-Management Programme for People With...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation science
• Digital health interventions
• Chronic disease management

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) increases fall risk in affected individuals.
• Effective fall prevention strategies are crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life in people with MS (pwMS).
• Existing self-management programs may not adequately address the specific needs of pwMS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development process of a theory-based, online fall prevention self-management program for pwMS.
• To ensure the program is relevant and accessible to both ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals with MS.
• To outline the collaborative approach involving patients and healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions.
• Conducted a scoping review of literature on falls self-management in pwMS.
• Employed iterative and concurrent development processes informed by pwMS and healthcare professional expertise.
• Engaged in a co-design process with end-users for program content and structure.

Main Results:

• Developed an online, theory-based self-management program named Fewer Falls in MS.
• The program incorporates action plans to address various fall risk factors.
• Iterative feedback from people with MS and healthcare professionals refined the program's process and content.
• A beta version was pretested with pwMS for further evaluation.

Conclusions:

• A co-development process with pwMS and healthcare professionals was essential for creating the Fewer Falls in MS program.
• Operationalizing a clear definition of self-management was key to the program's development.
• Ongoing collaboration with end-users is necessary for continuous program refinement.