None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Fatigue is one of the most troublesome symptoms of many neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis. It is also one of the least well managed by medication. Self-management programs provide people with chronic conditions with information, problem-solving skills and strategies to manage life with a chronic condition. This includes not only management of the symptoms but also the emotional consequences of living with a chronic condition and the day to day roles and responsibilities. Self-management interventions assist people with chronic conditions to manage their symptoms and retain a higher level of quality of life and activity participation. This study will test a novel way to manage fatigue secondary to multiple sclerosis. While the only evidence-based fatigue self-management program (Packer et al., 1995) is offered face-to-face in some parts of Australia, most Australians cannot access it. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an online fatigue self-management group intervention in comparison with a face-to-face group and a control group on quality of life, activity participation and fatigue impact on life among a sample of adults with multiple sclerosis. If effective, people with MS in Australia will have available an evidence-based intervention, accessible to people who face transportation barriers, the tyranny of distance or inability to attend at set times.
Interventions
Fatigue Management online intervention group: This 7-week intervention will follow the published protocol outlined in Managing fatigue (Packer et al., 1995). Full participation requires 2 hours per week of online contribution. Each session is highly structured and includes an education session, practice activities, discussions and homework assignment. The topics include the importance of rest, communication and body mechanics , organizing work stations, setting priorities and standards, balancin
Fatigue Management online intervention group: This 7-week intervention will follow the published protocol outlined in Managing fatigue (Packer et al., 1995). Full participation requires 2 hours per week of online contribution. Each session is highly structured and includes an education session, practice activities, discussions and homework assignment. The topics include the importance of rest, communication and body mechanics , organizing work stations, setting priorities and standards, balancing schedules and setting goals. All teaching content, worksheets, and homework assignments are provided online. Also participants can share information, express their ideas or feelings and offer advice or support to one another. The intervention will be run by facilitators who have been trained.
Sponsors
Curtin University of Technology
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
20 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis; Aged 20 or older at time of selection; A Fatigue Severity Scale (Dittner, Wessely, & Brown, 2004) score of 4 or higher (i.e. moderate-to-high fatigue impact).
Exclusion criteria
Previous participation in a 'Fatigue Management' face-to-face or an online self-management group intervention.
Outcome results
None listed