A Web-Based Lifestyle-Related Course for People Living With Multiple Sclerosis: Quantitative Evaluation of Course...

Web-based health courses providing lifestyle-related information can potentially increase knowledge, facilitate behavior change, and improve health outcomes for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite the low engagement with web-based programs by this population, few studies have evaluated factors influencing engagement. This study evaluated engagement with our 6-week lifestyle-related course (Multiple Sclerosis Online Course; MSOC) by participants enrolled in a large, international randomized controlled trial, as well as preliminary outcomes.

This study aimed to quantitatively assess engagement with the MSOC (the intervention course [IC] and standard-care course [SCC]), motivators of and barriers to participants' course completion, course satisfaction, engagement with the community forum, and intentions to implement lifestyle changes.

We collected data via a baseline survey before course commencement and an evaluation survey 1 month after the 6-week course. Course completers were queried on motivators of completion, course satisfaction, previous knowledge, forum participation, and intentions to adopt lifestyle changes. Noncompleters were queried on barriers to course completion. Differences between the 2 study arms were examined using chi-square and 2-tailed t tests. Multivariable linear regression models assessed factors (sociodemographic and course and health related) associated with participants' intentions to adopt lifestyle changes adjusting for baseline lifestyle factors. Moderation analyses were conducted to test group differences.

Of the 857 participants, 442 (51.6%) completed the MSOC (IC: n=218, 49.3%; SCC: n=224, 50.7%), and 291 (34%) completed the evaluation survey (n=254, 87.3% course completers; n=37, 12.7% noncompleters). Key motivators of course completion included an interest in participating in MS research, optimizing health, course flexibility, and relevant and useful course content. Barriers to course completion included time constraints and technical issues. Most course completers rated the MSOC as "excellent/very good" (IC: 92/126, 73%; SCC: 78/128, 60.9%; P=.17). Engagement with the facilitator-led community forum was higher in the IC than in the SCC (56/126, 44.4% vs 32/128, 25%; P=.003). More IC completers versus SCC completers expressed their intention to adopt dietary changes (89/125, 71.2% vs 74/127, 58.3%; P=.04), increase their sun exposure (82/124, 66.1% vs 62/124, 50%; P=.01), supplement with omega-3 (84/125, 67.2% vs 60/126, 47.6%; P=.004), and practice meditation (85/124, 68.5% vs 66/126, 52.4%; P=.009). Forum engagement, course satisfaction, new course content, and an interest in receiving additional course content were associated with intentions to adopt lifestyle changes across both study arms.

The web-based lifestyle IC provided new and satisfactory content and facilitated intentions to adopt lifestyle changes. Positive associations between engagement with the community forum and intentions to implement lifestyle changes and identifying barriers to completion such as time constraints provide important insights to inform the design of future digital health interventions for people living with MS and possibly other chronic conditions.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12621001605886; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382778&isReview=true.