Nurse-Led Digital Interventions for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Nursing Science
• Neurology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) necessitates long-term, multidisciplinary care, with nurses playing a crucial role in patient self-management and empowerment.
• The digital transformation in healthcare offers new avenues for nurse-led interventions, yet evidence in MS remains fragmented.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive overview of nurse-led digital interventions for multiple sclerosis management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the literature on nurse-led digital interventions for patients with multiple sclerosis.
• To analyze the role of nurses, reported clinical outcomes, and identify research gaps in this field.
• To synthesize findings on the effectiveness of digital tools in supporting MS patient care.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR checklist.
• Searches were performed across major databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL.
• Studies involving digital or telehealth interventions coordinated by nurses for MS patients were included.

Main Results:

• Twelve studies (2015-2025) identified four intervention themes: telenursing, self-management programs, digital monitoring, and symptom management.
• Nurse-led digital interventions improved self-management, adherence, self-efficacy, health behaviors, fatigue, sleep, balance, quality of life, and emotional well-being.
• These interventions enhanced care continuity, patient engagement, and organizational efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Nurse-led digital interventions are a promising strategy for managing multiple sclerosis, positively impacting clinical and psychosocial outcomes.
• Current evidence is limited by small sample sizes and intervention heterogeneity, necessitating larger, long-term studies.
• Integration into routine practice, nurse training, and further research on cost-effectiveness are crucial for sustainable implementation.