Functional Evaluation of Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Khoy (IRAN)

1. INTRODUCTION

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common, hidden, degenerative, and progressive chronic disease that is more prevalent in women than in men [1-3]. MS is one of the most common neurological diseases and the most debilitating disease in young ages. The disease is twice as common in women as in men and it is associated with inflammation, scarring, and gradual demyelination of the nerves of the brain and the spinal cord [1-3]. MS was first described in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot who was a French nerve specialist. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but it was proven that many treatments could be useful. In Iran, there are more than 50 thousand MS patients. Iran is one of the countries with a high prevalence rate of MS (15-30 per 100,000 people) [4, 5]. The disease affects more than 2.5 million people in the world and adds 200 people per week. MS is the third cause of disability in the US and 80% of people have some degree of disability [6, 7]. While the cause is not clear, studies point to viral infection and immune system disorders [8]. It seems that the activation of immune mechanisms against myelin tissue is involved in the development of the disease [9]. The incidence of the disease-related disability depends on the location of the nerves. The visual nerves, cerebellum, brain stem, cerebellum, and spinal cord are more likely to be affected than other parts of the central nervous system [10]. This chronic and progressive disorder causes sensory impairment, weakness, muscle cramps, visual impairment, cognitive impairment, fatigue, limb tremor, urinary tract disorder, feces, sexual function, balance, forgetfulness, hearing loss, numbness, and speech impairment. The range of symptoms varies from mild to severe and from transient to chronic [11, 12]. The clinical course of MS is different and unpredictable to different people, and its most common form is associated with a period of relapsing - remitting. Patients have different symptoms at different times, and each person may have certain symptoms, although some symptoms are more common. Physical symptoms associated with psychological problems such as anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment lead to significant disability [13, 14] and physical, psychological and social impairment in individuals [15]. People suffer from a variety of physical and psychological disorders during their lifetime and these disorders affect Daily performance, family life, and social and functional autonomy [16]. The disease often affects people who are at the stage of their productive life and are concerned about their family responsibilities and role [17]. This disease threatens the individual's independence and ability to participate effectively in the family and community, and affects all aspects of life and gradually leads to disability [2, 13]. Patients experience a higher level of psychiatric disorders such as depression, stress, and anxiety, which may occur due to direct effects of inflammation and demyelination of the nerves or resulting from the psychological effects of multiple sclerosis [18]. In the Grossman study, 17.9% of patients with MS had severe physical problems and 38.8% had severe social problems, and severe depression and anxiety were 11.2% and 14.9% respectively [19]. The psychological problems compared to physical changes make severe problems to the patient [20, 21]. Due to the complex nature of the disease, various mental and physical disabilities can arise, and family, occupational, and social causes, care and rehabilitation of patients are necessary to consider [22]. In order to achieve the highest level of health and have a positive belief in abilities, it is important to have multi-supportive programs [23]. Training about the disease, the importance of follow-up therapy and self-efficacy can improve physical, mental, and limit performance [24]. Based on the increasing population of patients, the mortality rate, increased costs of treatment and multiple problems, the reduction of the patient's problems should be considered as a priority of health and research [4]. Regarding the nature of the disease and the importance of the issue, by conducting numerous studies, it is possible to identify and determine the frequency of symptoms and to take positive steps towards proper management and reduction of patients' disability. The present study is aimed to determine the capability level of MS patient referred to the health center for Special Diseases in Madani Hospital of Khoy in 2016.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out after coordination and obtaining the consent of 70 MS female patients, who referred to the health center for Special Diseases in Madani Hospital of Khoy in 2016. The researcher explained the research goals and the inclusion criteria such as confirmation of MS disease by a physician, age range of 20-50 years, cooperation, and ability to answer questions, lack of samples in the acute phase of the disease, and exclusion criteria such as the incidence of other acute or chronic physical, mental, or psychiatric disorders. For the emotional and mental status of sample to answer the questions and referral patients, only female patients were considered due to research limitations. Total samples were selected via censuses in 2016. The measurement tools included 15-questions Patients characteristic of form (indicates the individual characteristics and its information about the disease) and 29-questions MSISS questionnaires (to measure the capability of patients) in two physical (20 questions) and psychological (9 questions) dimensions (about their concerns and ability restrictions over the past two weeks). To measure the level of ability, the 5-option Likert scale was used (from never to very much with the range of points 29-145), which a high score indicated an aggravation of disability. The validity of questionnaires was approved by the perspective of 12 experts and the reliability of the questionnaire was verified by retesting on 20 patients with an internal correlation of Cronbach’s alpha (α=0.85). Data analyses were carried out using SPSS v.16 software with independent sample T-test, and ANOVA (P≤ 0.05).

3. RESEARCH FINDINGS

According to the present study, the majority of studied units included married women (69%), housewives (74%) with 83% disability, relapsing - remitting (77%), without communication problems (89%) (Table 1). In physical dimension, the most frequent disability was related to the mild disability (74% and with a score less than 45) and in psychological dimension (21-32), it was 45.7% (Table 2). Generally, in the present research, the severity of disease-related disability was mild (65.7%) (Table 3). In the evaluation of statistical relationship, there were significant differences between limitation of disease-related disability and age, disablement, lifestyle, having a caregiver, type of illness and communication problems in the level lower than (α=0.05). Besides, based on the results, there was a connection between physical and psychological dimension (P<0/001) (Table 4).

4. DISCUSSION

Occurrences of some symptoms as well as disabilities in patients with MS result in dependency and social solitary. Although the main goal of nursing is to maintain the activity and independence of patients through rehabilitation programs by the recognition of needs and mental health support, mentioned issues prevent the realization of therapeutic goals. According to the aims of the present study, the most frequent disability was mild. In the study of Sanglaji and colleagues, based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), mild, average, and severe disability were 33.7%, 51.1%, and 15.2% respectively, which is partly consistent with the present study. Considering the similar results of various studies, the necessity of establishing rehabilitation centers with educational and counseling programs to increase the capacity and improve the health of these patients at the community level is necessary [25]. Comparing the two physical and mental dimensions showed that the frequency of severity of disability in psychological problems was more than physical. This result indicated that patients suffered from more mental and physiological problems, which could be related to the patient's concern about the disease, the effects of the illness and the outcome of the therapeutic intervention. In the study of Mitchell and colleagues, about 48% of patients experienced anxiety, stress, and depression in the first year after diagnosis [26]. The results of Sicily and Johnson's study also showed a significant and direct relation between the anxiety and stress of MS patients with severity of illness, so that the severity of disability increased the stress and anxiety of patients [27]. Those of Etemadi Far and colleagues showed that with the increasing severity of disease, mental health of patients was more affected than their physical health [28]. Concerns of patients with MS include two parts such as the effect of the disease on physical activity and concern about the impact of the severity of the disease on social interactions, family relationships, and daily activities [29]. Therefore, in order to cope with the psychological effects of the disease, maintaining mental and psychological support is essential. In the physical dimension, the highest incidence of severe inability was the lack of ability to perform for a long time and in the mental-psychological dimension, irritability, irregularity, and anxiety. In the study of Dehghi and colleagues, among physical problems, motion constraints limited the daily routine task and social activities more than other symptoms of illness [30]. In the study of Ravanmehr and colleagues, the frequency of movement disorders, visual acuity, and balance problems were 40%, 30%, and 40%, respectively and they showed the highest frequency. Besides, speech and digestive problems had the lowest frequency [31]. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the type of physical or psychological disabling symptoms and to act appropriately to control the problems of the treatment team [32]. As a result, the disabilities could be treated by providing the necessary training along with self-management and stimulating the forgotten abilities of the patients. Since nurses spend the most time with patients, they can play an important role in identifying the unobservable symptoms, the effect of these symptoms on daily functioning, and how to reduce the adverse effects of these disabilities [33]. Sutherland and colleagues concluded that the relaxation program would generate more energy and would result in less limitation of MS patients in performing physical and psychomotor roles [34]. The results of the present study indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between Limitations of disease-related disability with age, disablement, lifestyle, having caregiver, type of illness and communication problems. Moreover, there was a correlation between physical and mental disability, while, according to those of Etemadi Far and his colleagues, there was no significant relationship between quality of life and with demographic characteristics of age, gender, occupation, and education level, severity, and type of disease. The results of the mentioned study were different with background variables of the present study. It seems that the geographical difference, the severity of the disability and the type of instrument affected this difference. Besides, in the study of Etemedi Far, there was a significant relationship between physical health and mental health, which was in agreement with our findings [28]. Therefore, resolving the problems of MS patients, empowerment in identifying the nature of the disease, relieving symptoms, increasing self-care awareness and self-confidence, will be possible by facilitating the adaptive methods and support.

CONCLUSION

Regarding the results of the study and the frequency of severity of disability in MS patients in the psychological dimension compared to the physical dimension and the effect of physical and mental disorders, it is necessary to minimize the severity of the disabilities by teaching how to control the stress, changing lifestyle, and by creating conditions for the use of complementary therapies such as relaxation, guided visualization, thought diversion, music therapy, massage therapy and rehabilitation measures (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, use of assistive devices), counseling, psychotherapy and community support services for MS patients. Since the MS affects all aspects of physical, psychological, family and community, and only medical treatment and control of period of disease are not enough to treat patients, therefore, the medical community, especially nurses, should provide comprehensive rehabilitation plans to increase the performance of patients.

REFERENCES