Quality of Life of People with Multiple Sclerosis:Clinical and Psychosocial Determinants. (16th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albuquerque, Carlos; Geraldo, Ana; Martins, Rosa; Ribeiro, Olivério
• Is Part Of: Procedia--social and behavioral sciences. Volume 171(2015)
• Page Start: 359
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2015-01-16
• Subjects: Multiple Sclerosis -- Quality of Life -- Dependence Degree -- Stress -- Social Support.; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Congresses; Arts -- Periodicals; Arts -- Congresses; Humanities -- Periodicals; Humanities -- Congresses; 300
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-0428

Abstract

Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, inflammatory, chronic, potentially disabling, neurological disease which is very common in young adults. It is of unknown origin there is no available curative treatment as of yet. Consequently, studying the quality of life (QOL) of people with MS people is an important aspect in assessing the impact of the disease on their daily lives. Through a cross-sectional, quantitative study, we enquired a random sample of 54 Portuguese MS patients, mostly female (61.1%), married (72.2%), aged between 20 and 67 years (M=42.11; SD=11.728), employed (37.0%), in which the mean age at onset was 33 years. The following are the measurement instruments used: the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life scale (MSQoL-54) (Vickrey, Hays, Harooni, Myers & Ellison, 1995), Portuguese version byPedro and Pais-Ribeiro (2008) ; the Barthel Index (Mayoney FI & Barthel DW, 1965), Portuguese version by Araujo, Pais-Ribeiro, Oliveira and Pinto (2007); the Stress Vulnerability Scale (23QVS) (Vaz Serra, 2000 ) and the Social Support Scale (SSS) (Ferreira & Matos, 2000). The variables that showed a statistically significant effect on QOL were: age group, employment status, job satisfaction, age at onset of disease, associated diseases, sequelae of the disease, rehabilitation programme, degree of dependency/functional capacity, vulnerability to stress and social support. We believe that all who deal daily with people with this condition need to enter this subjective world where it becomes imperative to identify issues and needs not flagged by health professionals, but perceived by sufferers.