QOL05
Impact of the Interdisciplinary Team on Quality of Life in a Rural Multiple Sclerosis Clinic

Thursday, June 2, 2022
Prince George's Exhibit Hall (Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center)
Bonnie Blain, RN, CNN(C) MSCN , Medical Specialty Clinic, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Alberta Health Services, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Lou-Anne Robertson, RN BScN , Central Alberta MS Clinic, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Siobhan Bast, RN BScN MSCN , Central Alberta MS Clinic, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Victoria Christiansen, BScAHN RD , Central Alberta MS Clinic, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Diana Ehlers, Data Analyst , Central Alberta MS Clinic, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Ashley A Hunter, Bachelor of Social Work , Medical Specialty Clinic, Alberta Health Services, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Cassandra Stewart, BA, MScOT, Reg. OT (AB) , Central Alberta MS Clinic, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Golda Catalon, BScOT , Central Alberta MS Clinic, Red Deer, AB, Canada
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Background:

Alberta is a large landlocked province in Western Canada with a small population of over 4 million. With roughly 10% of residents living in the central area of the province, Central Alberta is characterized by numerous small communities with unique healthcare needs. Canada is known to have one of the highest rates of MS in the world with the small area of Central Alberta ranked as one of the highest rates of Multiple Sclerosis in the country.

Providing comprehensive, collaborative care is vital to the success of the rural MS clinic. Incorporating a well-balanced interdisciplinary approach, the Central Alberta Multiple Sclerosis Clinic strives to make care individualized and accessible for each patient and family. Although the unique characteristics of the rural environment presents some challenges, a targeted, flexible approach provides much opportunity to provide exceptional care. The team includes Neurologists, Nurses, Social Worker, Occupational Therapists and Dietitian and has access to Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Urology and limited access to Mental Health Services.

Objectives:

The purpose of our analysis was to explore the perceived quality of life that the rural patient experiences from our interdisciplinary team specializing in MS. Utilizing the MUSIQOL tool, current quality of life data was compared to results from previous analysis done in 2013. We anticipated a decline in several categories of the MUSIQOL due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

The MUSICQOL Questionnaire Investigating Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis was mailed to patients booked for routine annual visits for a period of three months. The results were compiled and compared against data from 2013.

Results:

As anticipated, survey participants indicated satisfaction with the multidisciplinary services available through our clinic. However, both physical and mental quality of life reports were marginally lower than when previously assessed, and could be related to the complexity and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions:

The quality of life of the rural Multiple Sclerosis patient is positively impacted when cared for by an interdisciplinary team. The analysis also suggests that Mental Health services embedded in the program may be beneficial to improving quality of life for the person living with Multiple Sclerosis and their family.

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