Providing a Structured Multiple Sclerosis Education Program within a Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Center of Excellence in a Private Practice

Background:   Texas Neurology has long been known as a comprehensive practice as we employ numerous subspecialists in many areas of neurology.  To enhance our care of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, we embarked on establishment of a Comprehensive Center of Excellence for MS.  It is essential for the Center of Excellence to provide in-depth disease process education as a literature search revealed increased knowledge decreases unrealistic expectations of patients related to their disease processes (Coulter 1999).  In addition, patient education may provide patients the confidence to participate in treatment choices (Kasper 2006), which may ultimately have an impact on symptom management (Heesen 2007) the course of the disease as well as quality of life (Heesen 2007).

Objectives:   Establishment of a formal, structured, reproducible education curriculum within The Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence which will include pathophysiology, symptoms expectations, treatment options, cognitive behavioral coping skills/strategies, and  prognosis.  

Methods: Educational classes will be offered through the Center of Excellence at established meeting times for groups or on a 1:1 basis during follow up visits.  The curriculum will be established using the AANN, ARN, and IOMSN Clinical Practice Guideline Series for Nursing Management of the Patient with Multiple Sclerosis.  A pre-curriculum and post-curriculum testing instrument will be designed to measure knowledge, adherence and self-care

Results: Analysis of data will be presented.

Conclusions: Multiple Sclerosis patients who are knowledgeable regarding their disease process  have more realistic expectations, are more adherent to care regimens, participate more fully in their ongoing care and are more likely to assume responsibility for self-care

References:

Coulter A, Entwistle v, Gilbert D. (1999). Sharing decisions with patients: is the information good enough?. British Medical Journal, 318-22.

Heesen C, Kasper J, Kopke S, Richter T, Segal J, Muhlhauser I.  Informed shared decision making in multiple sclerosis - inevitable or impossible?. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 2007;259:109-17

Kapser J, KKopke S, Muhlhauser I, Heesen C. Evidencedbased patient information about treatment of multiple sclerosis. A phase one study on comprehension and emotional responses. Patient Education and Counseling 2006;62:56-63. Journal 1999;318:318-22.