Impact of a Virtual Wellness Program on Quality of Life Measures for Patients Living With Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sarah M Weinstein; Emily Reilly; Nora Garland; Vanessa Zimmerman; Dina Jacobs

doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2021-134

Impact of a Virtual Wellness Program on Quality of Life Measures for Patients Living With Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Int J MS Care. 2022 Nov-Dec;24(6):282-286. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2021-134. Epub 2022 Oct 3.

Authors

Sarah M Weinstein¹, Emily Reilly², Nora Garland³, Vanessa Zimmerman³, Dina Jacobs³

Affiliations

¹ The Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA (SMW).
² Philadelphia, PA, USA (ER).
³ Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA (DJ, NG, VZ).

Abstract

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were vulnerable to the effects of physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As patients returned to in-person visits, providers reported seeing increased weakness, balance issues, falls, worsening pain, and spasticity. Social isolation also contributed to increased stress, depression, and anxiety. This study explored whether attending virtual wellness programs was associated with improvements in standard quality of life questionnaire scores for patients with MS.

Methods: The purposive convenience sample consisted of 43 patients in the treatment group and 28 in the control group. Patients in the treatment group attended 2 monthly programs for 6 months and completed a demographic questionnaire, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Pain Effects Scale (PES). Patients requested additional topics, resulting in 5 additional programs. The control group consisted of patients who chose not to attend the programs but agreed to complete the questionnaires.

Results: In comparing questionnaire responses (6 months minus baseline) among the participants in the treatment group, an association was found between higher meeting attendance and improvements in emotional well-being (P = .038), pain on the PES (P = .011), mindfulness on the SF-36 pain scale (P = .0472), and exercise on the PES (P = .0115).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that a virtual wellness program may provide beneficial emotional support, physical exercise, and health promotion activities resulting in improved quality of life in people with MS. In addition, mindfulness and exercise programs may be beneficial in pain management.

Keywords: virtual programs; wellness programs.

Grants and funding

FUNDING/SUPPORT: Ms Weinstein provided statistical support and is funded by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. External speakers were paid honoraria supported by a grant from the Board of Women Visitors of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and funding earned through successful completion of annual projects with the Neuroscience Service Line of Penn Medicine.