A multicenter randomized controlled trial of two group education programs for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Short- and medium-term benefits. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hugos, Cinda L; Chen, Zunqiu; Chen, Yiyi; Turner, Aaron P; Haselkorn, Jodie; Chiara, Toni; McCoy, Sean; Bever, Christopher T; Cameron, Michelle H; Bourdette, Dennis
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 25:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 285
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- fatigue -- rehabilitation -- self-care -- clinical trial; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458517745723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Background: Fatigue occurs in 75%–95% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is frequently reported as the most disabling symptom. A multicomponent group program of six weekly 2-hour sessions, Fatigue: Take Control (FTC), was developed from an international MS fatigue management guideline. Objective: To determine whether FTC is associated with greater improvements in fatigue than MS: Take Control (MSTC), a similarly structured general MS education program. Methods: This four-site, parallel, single-blind, randomized controlled trial compared FTC and MSTC in 204 ambulatory participants with MS. The primary outcome, the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and secondary outcomes of self-efficacy, physical activity, sleep, and medications were assessed at baseline, program completion, and 3 and 6 months later. Results: Mean MFIS scores improved in both groups between baseline and program completion (FTC −4.4, p < 0.001; MSTC −3.8, p < 0.001), between baseline and 3 months after program completion (FTC −3.2, p = 0.01; MSTC −3.3, p = 0.01), and between baseline and 6 months after program completion (FTC −5.2, p < 0.001; MSTC −4.8, p < 0.001). These improvements were not statistically different between groups ( p = 0.64, 0.92, and 0.82, respectively). Conclusion: Participation in FTC modestly improved self-reported fatigue for up to 6 months. This improvement did not differ significantly from that occurring with the control program.