scholarly journals Healthy Aging from the Perspectives of 683 Older People with Multiple Sclerosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Wallack ◽  
Hailey D. Wiseman ◽  
Michelle Ploughman
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Older People ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Aged People ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Design And Methods

Purpose.The aim of this study was to determine what factors most greatly contributed to healthy aging with multiple sclerosis (MS) from the perspective of a large sample of older people with MS.Design and Methods.Participants (n=683; >55 years of age with symptoms >20 years) provided answers to an open-ended question regarding healthy aging and were categorized into three groups, 55–64 (young), 65–74 (middle), and 75 and over (oldest old). Sociodemographic actors were compared using ANOVA. Two independent raters used the framework method of analyzing qualitative data.Results.Participants averaged 64 years of age(±6.2)with MS symptoms for 32.9 years(±9.4). 531 participants were female (78%). The majority of participants lived in their own home (n=657) with a spouse or partner (n=483). Participants described seven themes: social connections, attitude and outlook on life, lifestyle choices and habits, health care system, spirituality and religion, independence, and finances. These themes had two shared characteristics, multidimensionality and interdependence.Implications.Learning from the experiences of older adults with MS can help young and middle aged people with MS plan to age in their own homes and communities. Our data suggests that older people with MS prioritize factors that are modifiable through targeted self-management strategies.

scholarly journals The Path to Self-Management: A Qualitative Study Involving Older People with Multiple Sclerosis

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Ploughman ◽  
Mark W. Austin ◽  
Michelle Murdoch ◽  
Anne Kearney ◽  
Marshall Godwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Self Management

scholarly journals A qualitative investigation of lay perspectives of diagnosis and self-management strategies employed by people with progressive multiple sclerosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Frost ◽  
Jane Grose ◽  
Nicky Britten
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Lay Perspectives ◽  
Degree Of Certainty ◽  
To Come

This article explores how people with progressive multiple sclerosis give meaning to their experiences. It builds upon the self-management literature, which has captured the tension between the desire for retaining normalcy and the increasing burden of self-management associated with chronic disease progression. This repeat interview study is empirically grounded in 28 interviews with 14 people with progressive multiple sclerosis. We identified gender differences in diagnosis-seeking which impacted subsequent sense-making. Male respondents found a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis difficult to come to terms with, and an enduring sense of loss or anger could inhibit further sense-making. A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was more difficult to obtain for women respondents, and any sense of certainty that diagnosis provided framed their subsequent sense-making strategies. The complex sequelae of multiple sclerosis require that self-management strategies are both contextual and timely, although even the most accomplished self-managers can lose their sense of self with neurodegeneration. Disease progression can be associated with suicidal ideation, suggesting the need for greater dialogue to ensure that people with multiple sclerosis are adequately supported to fulfil their quality of life at all stages of neurodegeneration. These lay perspectives emphasise the articulation of affect rather than the rendering of a medical diagnosis, although diagnosis may provide a degree of certainty in the short term. The ethos of self-management ensures people attempt to retain their sense of ‘normality’ and existent social roles for as long as possible, but this ethos can negate both one’s ability to self-manage and the management of self.

scholarly journals Apps for Older People’s Pain Self-Management: Perspectives of Primary Care and Allied Health Clinicians

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 686-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Bhattarai ◽  
Toby Newton-John ◽  
Jane L Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Time Data

Abstract Background Chronic arthritic pain is one of the major causes of physical suffering and disability among older people. Primary care and allied health clinicians use various approaches to help their older clients better manage their arthritic pain. The growing uptake of technology among older people offers the potential for clinicians to integrate an arthritic pain app into their patients’ self-management plans. This study explored the perspectives of Australian primary care and allied health clinicians regarding the use of pain self-management apps to help their older patients/clients better manage their arthritic pain. Methods Qualitative design using a semistructured interview approach. Interviews were conducted via telephone with primary and allied health clinicians (N = 17) across Australia. Results The overarching theme underlying participants’ views on integration of apps into older people’s pain self-management strategy was that this approach is an idealistic but uniquely challenging endeavor. Four subthemes emerged, namely: 1) self-management apps are a potentially useful tool but require careful consideration; 2) clinicians’ involvement is crucial yet potentially onerous; 3) no single app is right for every older person with arthritic pain; and 4) patient data access is beneficial, but caution is needed for real-time data access. Discussion The predominant clinician perspective of integrating apps into their older patients/clients’ pain self-management strategies was that this approach is an idealistic but uniquely challenging endeavor. Apps were seen as having potential to support various aspects of patients’ self-management behaviors; however, there were notable concerns with regards to the challenges inherent in this approach for both clinicians and older users (patients/clients).

Patients’, carers’ and providers’ experiences and requirements for support in self-management of multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Deibel ◽  
Michelle Edwards ◽  
Adrian Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Management Interventions

Background: Self-management is a process increasingly promoted for the management of long term conditions, both for ethical reasons of enhancing autonomy and for likely cost-effectiveness, but the nature and scope of self-management strategies are currently highly variable.Objective: To identify patients’, carers’ and clinicians’ current experiences of self-management in multiple sclerosis (MS) and their recommendations for the development of a future MS-specific self-management interventionMethods: Qualitative study using focus groups and semi-structured one-to-one interviews with a purposive sample. Three focus groups were held with 25 patients with moderate to advanced multiple sclerosis and 4 carers. Ten clinicians were interviewed. Data underwent thematic analysis.Results: Participants perceived multiple aspects of MS to be amenable to self-management, but identified a current lack of service provision to support their abilities to self-manage. Participants felt that to address both the physical and psychosocial challenges posed by MS required better information provision, a strong relationship with healthcare professionals and a toolkit of self-management skills. Participants expressed concern at the lack of consideration currently given to carers, which should be addressed in future provision.Conclusion: The diverse experiences of patients living with MS warrant a multidisciplinary, flexible and proactive approach to improve their self-management capabilities, acknowledging both patients’ and carers’ unmet needs. The findings can be used to guide the development of future self-management interventions specific to individuals with multiple sclerosis.

A Case Study: Unique Challenges of an Adolescent Female With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 314-325
Author(s):  
Kimberly F. Frazier ◽  
Jessica Collier ◽  
Rachel Glade
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Adolescent Female ◽  
Social Thinking

Background The aim of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy of combining self-management strategies and a social thinking approach to address the social performance and executive function of an adolescent female with autism spectrum disorder. Method This research examined the effects of a social knowledge training program, “Think Social,” as well as strategies to improve higher order cognitive abilities. Results and Conclusion Although quantitative improvement was not found, several qualitative gains in behavior were noted for the participants of this study, suggesting a benefit from using structured environmental cues of self-management strategies, as well as improved social understanding through social cognitive training.

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