The Effect of Peer Support Groups on Promotion of Physical Health Status of Patients Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Objective: Multiple Sclerosis ( MS) results in a range of unpleasant, unpredictable and physically disabling conditions. Thus, health promotion programmes are needed and Peer support groups have been shown to play a role in health promotion. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of peer groups on promoting physical health status in MS patients.   Material and Methods: This before and after quasi-experimental study was conducted in Tehran MS Association (۲۰۱۰) on ۳۳ patients participated in three peer support groups: ۱۰ in male group, ۱۱ in female group and ۱۲ in mixed group. Eight weekly sessions, each taken ۲ hours, were held. The patients were asked to fill out the Physical aspect of "Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory" with ۷۸ items (α=۰.۹۳)­ in pre of intervention, two weeks after it, post of intervention and one month later.   Results :­ The Results show that peer support groups promote the physical health status (p=۰.۰۰۱). In each three groups, there is a significant difference in physical health status in patients from before of intervention until one month after (p=۰.۰۰۱). This change is increasing from start of intervention until the end of it­ and then is reducing up to one month after intervention.   Conclusion: The results show that peer groups can promote the physical health of patients with MS therefore, with the benefits of peer group, it is possible to promote the quality of care for MS patients, which in turn enhances the patients′ quality of life.

Keywords:

Multiple sclerosis , Peer group , Physical health status , مولتیپل اسکلروزیس , گروه همتایان , وضعیت سلامت جسمی