Outcomes of Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care: A Pilot Comparison of Intensive, Integrated, and Usual Care Approaches

A comprehensive personalized care approach may better support individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) in managing their health, function, and quality of life than clinical care that does not incorporate evidence-based, comprehensive, and personalized care. This pilot study compared outcomes among people with MS who participated in a 4-day comprehensive MS care program, those treated in an MS institute, and those who received traditional MS care.

This study was conducted at a nonprofit rehabilitation center. Participants were people with MS who (1) were in a 4-day comprehensive MS program (4Day; n = 24), (2) were receiving care in an MS institute (MSI; n = 10), or (3) were members of an online patient research platform (iConquerMS; iCMS; n = 21). Data were collected at baseline and 1, 6, 12, and 24 months via an electronic portal. They included scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, Patient-Determined Disease Steps, MS Impact Scale-29, Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale-Revised, MS Walking Scale-12, Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders, and Spinal Cord Injury Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale.

All groups showed improvements across most outcomes at 1 and 6 months. The 4Day and MSI groups had greater gains in self-management, self-efficacy, and quality of life, particularly at 1 month, compared with the iCMS group.

Comprehensive MS care, whether delivered intensively over 4 days or through an integrated outpatient program, may enhance self-efficacy and quality of life more effectively than standard care alone. Further research is needed due to small sample sizes, pandemic-related challenges, and limited clinical data for one group.