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Autoimmune Intervention Mastery Course Study

Evaluation of an Online Course Designed to Support the Adoption of Healthier Diet and Self-Care Routines in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05057676
Acronym
AIM
Enrollment
400
Registered
2021-09-27
Start date
2021-12-01
Completion date
2027-12-01
Last updated
2026-08-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cancer in Remission With Persisting Fatigue, Clinically Isolated Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

Keywords

diet, self care

Brief summary

The goal of this project is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of using an online program to improve diet and self-care in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), fibromyalgia, post acute sequela of covid, and cancer in remission with persisting fatigue.

Detailed description

The goal of this project is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of using an online program to improve diet and self-care in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), fibromyalgia, post acute sequela of covid, and cancer in remissin with persisting fatigue. The cancer patients must be patients at the University of Iowa Holden Cancer Center. Once eligibility criteria are determined and consent is obtained, participants would work through the course modules like a non-graded online course. There are exercises and personal assessments within the course participants are asked to take to build upon each other to increase the success of the experience while taking the course. Throughout the course there will be modules that will discuss an inner game plan, food intervention plan, physical intervention plan, and an increased resilience plan. The fourth module suggests different strategies that participants can do to improve their health beyond food and exercise. These types of things would include supplements, light therapy, detoxification, improved sleep, stress reduction, and other ways to enhance their body's resilience. Investigators ask that participants inform and work with their healthcare team to personalize their treatment and determine if the suggested strategies mentioned in the course are appropriate for their healthcare path. This will provide dietary education to a larger sample size compared to what has been studied in the past. The study may include more patients that have limited resources, including but not limited to, money and location for access to registered dietitians with expertise in dietary instruction for patient s diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and CIS. There is interest in education and support that can be delivered via an online platform that can lead to improved diet quality and self-care routines for multiple sclerosis and autoimmune patients. This study will use a randomized single-blind wait list control design to evaluate the impact of an online course that teaches the modified Paleolithic diet, nutrient dense vegetarian diet and Mediterranean diets, stress reduction and exercise strategies using commercially available online course for autoimmune patients. Data will be collected in the short-term (after 3 months) and long-term (at the end of 6 months ) to analyze the impact of an online wellness program QoL and related outcomes among people with CIS and MS, fibromyalgia, post acute sequela of covid, and cancer in remission wiht persisting fatigue. The study will use a 7-day window to collect baseline assessments. Participants will use a personal email that does not contain identifying information to participate in the study. Participants will be asked to complete all baseline assessments. This email and password will be used for access to the online course materials. Patients will be randomized to the intervention arm based upon the baseline modified fatigue impact score. Patients will receive access to the online program and 7 group support videos (released one per week or 7 weeks total). Participants will access the course materials using the study assigned email. The proposed study will consist of virtual-only participants and will have 3 virtual visits every 3 months (months 0, 3, and 6). Online questionnaires will be sent to the participants to assess fatigue and quality of life. Dietary assessments will include a questionnaire through a web-based tool after baseline, at month 3, and month 6.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALImmediate Autoimmune Intervention Mastery Course (AIM)

Immediate access to an on line audio and video course with education about strategies to grow and improve resilience, diet quality, exercise, stress reduction and self-care

BEHAVIORALImmediate Question and Answer sessions. (AIM Q and A sessions)

Immediate access to videos answering common questions about the course concepts. One video released each week, 7 videos total.

BEHAVIORALDelayed Autoimmune Intervention Mastery Course (delayed AIM course)

Delayed access to an on line audio and video course with education about strategies to grow and improve resilience, diet quality, exercise, stress reduction and self-care

BEHAVIORALDelayed AIM Question and Answer sessions

Delayed access to videos answering common questions about the course concepts. One video released each week, 7 videos total.

Sponsors

Terry L. Wahls
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Masking description

Investigator will be masked.

Intervention model description

Wait list control

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* self-reported multiple sclerosis * self-reported clinically isolated syndrome OR self-reported post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC), also known as long COVID, with a confirmed laboratory test of COVID-19 infection, persisting fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms for longer than 6 months after confirmation of COVID diagnosis, OR self-reported diagnosis of fibromyalgia as documented by their treating specialist or primary care provider,

Exclusion criteria

\-

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Multiple Sclerosis 54 Quality of Life Mental Health (MS 54 QoL MH)baseline to 3 monthsChange in (MS 54 QoL MH) survey questions mean scores, range 0-100, higher number is better.
Multiple Sclerosis 54 Quality of Life Physical Health (MS 54 QoL PH)baseline to 3 monthsChange in (MS 54 QoL PH) survey questions mean scores, range 0-100, higher number is better.
Short form 36 (SF 36)baseline to 3 monthsChange in (SF 36) survey questions mean scores, range 0-100, higher number is better.
The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue Scale (FACIT-FS):baseline to 3 monthsFACIT-FS is a 13-item measure that assesses self-reported fatigue and its impact upon daily activities and function, which can be completed in less than 5 minutes.10 Each question provides 5 ordinal response options ("not at all," "a little bit," "somewhat," "quite a bit," and "very much"). Each item contributes equally (item score range=0-4) to a total score that ranges from 0 to 52, where higher scores represent less fatigue.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Modified Fatigue Impact Scalebaseline to 3 monthsChange in MFIS survey questions, scores range from 0-84, lower score is better.
vegetable and fruit intakebaseline to 3 monthsChange in number of servings of vegetables consumed per day, servings range from 0 to 9 or more
added sugar intakebaseline to 3 monthschange in the grams of added sugar consumed each day, grams range from 0 to 100
calcium intakebaseline to 3 monthschange in calcium intake, range 0 to 2000 mg
Servings of whole grains consumedbaseline to 3 monthschange in number of servings of whole grains consumed, range 0 to 6 or more servings
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revisedbaseline to 3 monthsPain Rating (0-10 Low to High Scale) survey questions with higher score indicating greater impact
Brief Pain Inventorybaseline to 3 monthsInterference (0-10 Low to High Scale) 15 survey items with higher score indicating greater intensity
FM Disease activity (FIQR)baseline to 3 months0-100( Low to High Scale)21 survey items used to evaluate function, overall impact, and symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.
Pain scalebaseline to 3 months0-10 (low to high) 13 survey items used to evaluate feelings about pain.
Pain catastrophizing scalebaseline to 6 months052 (low to high) 13 survey items used to evaluate feelings about pain. Higher scores indicating more severe feelings about pain related problems
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G)baseline to 3 monthsmeasures health-related QoL covering 5 domains: physical well-being (7 items), family/social well-being (7 items), emotional well-being (6 items), functional well-being (7 items), and fatigue-specific items (13 items).10 These items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale, where 0 = "not at all" and 5 = "very much," with a recall period over the past 7 days. Domain scores can be calculated by summing the scores for each domain, and/or a total score by summing the scores for all domains, with higher scores representing better functioning. General guidelines estimate for the FACT-G minimally important difference (MID), is 4-7 points. The total score ranges from 0-108.
Optional interview at study conclusioncollected at study conclusionAsking open ended questions about the participant's study experience, barriers, challenges, web-based aspect of course, social support, geographic location, experience with specific modules and suggestions for improvement for the course and the study

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORTerry L Wahls, MD

University of Iowa

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 11, 2026