A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Wellness Intervention for Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To examine the effects of a wellness intervention program for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) on health behaviors and quality of life (QOL).

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Community setting in the southwestern United States.

Participants: Convenience sample of 113 women with physician-confirmed MS (mean age, 45.79y).

Interventions: The 2-phase intervention program included lifestyle-change classes for 8 weeks, then telephone follow-up for 3 months. Participants were followed over an 8-month period.

Main Outcome Measures: A series of self-report instruments to measure barriers, resources, self-efficacy for health behaviors, health promotion behaviors, and health-related QOL were completed at baseline, 2 months (after the classes), 5 months (after telephone follow-up), and at 8 months. Principal outcomes measures were health-promoting behaviors (scores on the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II) and QOL (scores on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36] scales).

Results: Hierarchical linear modeling techniques revealed a statistically significant group by time effect for self-efficacy for health behaviors, health-promoting behaviors, and the mental health and pain scales of the SF-36.

Conclusion: These data provide initial support for the positive effects of wellness interventions to improve health behaviors and selected dimensions of QOL for women with MS.