An Online Lifestyle Modification Course for People With Multiple Sclerosis

NCT ID: NCT05374473

Last Updated: 2023-12-12

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

945 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-06-24

Study Completion Date

2024-12-31

Brief Summary

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Lifestyle factors are known to affect the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies of participants with MS attending an evidence-based lifestyle modification program, delivered via face-to-face workshops, have demonstrated improved mental and physical health, reduced relapse rate and improved quality of life over 3 years follow up, and that behaviour change was feasible and sustainable. However, the face-to-face modality of this educational intervention is resource intensive, and accessibility may be impeded by geography, cost, and MS-specific factors such as illness, fatigue, and disability. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the unpredictable ability to travel and the importance of flexibility of health-related education.

The Neuroepidemiology Unit at the University of Melbourne has developed the Multiple Sclerosis Online Course (MSOC) to deliver a widely accessible and user-friendly educational tool for people with MS. The course aims to deliver the best available evidence regarding lifestyle-related risk factors in the development and progression of MS and behaviour modification to improve health outcomes.

Two forms of the course were developed:

1. an intervention course delivering evidence-based information regarding modifiable lifestyle related risk factors implicated in disease progression; and
2. a standard-care course, similar in format and presentation, but containing general information sourced from standard MS websites. Both courses have seven modules delivered over six weeks.

A feasibility study involving the delivery of the intervention and standard-care course was conducted from April to June 2021. The study assessed the primary outcomes of attrition in both intervention and standard-care arm. Secondary outcomes assessed assessed learnability, accessibility, and desirability via a Likert scale follow-up survey. A qualitative analysis examining motivation, expectations and outcomes was also conducted. Tertiary outcomes assessed the completion of the baseline surveys, a requirement to enter the course. Based on the feasibility study, the investigators have modified recruitment strategies, functionality, and the community forum aspects of the course. Investigators now aim to test the effectiveness of the intervention arm of the course versus the standard-care arm in a larger randomised controlled trial.

Objective:

To prospectively examine whether an MS Online intervention course (intervention arm) can deliver an evidence-based educational intervention that results in behaviour change which can be sustained and translated into improved health outcomes for people with MS, and whether these effects are superior to the MS Online standard-care course (control arm).

Participants who are 18 or older, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by a doctor are welcome to join our study.

The online course will run for 6 weeks. During this time, there are no formal assessments or minimum time investment required, which means participants are free to navigate the course as they see fit.

Prior to commencing the study, participants will be asked fill-out a survey about their health (e.g., fatigue) and lifestyle (e.g., diet) and will be asked to fill this out again during the study.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Multiple Sclerosis

Keywords

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Randomised controlled trial Lifestyle modification Online intervention

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Two forms of the course were developed:

1. an intervention course based delivering evidence based information regarding modifiable lifestyle related risk factors implicated in disease progression; and
2. a standard-care course, similar in format and presentation, but containing general information sourced from standard MS websites.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Intervention

Intervention-tailored program with information regarding modifiable lifestyle related risk factors implicated in disease progression.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Lifestyle modification

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Content in the intervention arm was adapted from an evidence-based lifestyle modification program for people with MS outlined in print previously presented in a face-to-face format. The integrated lifestyle modification program translates the research evidence regarding modification of lifestyle related risk factors and health outcomes based on a detailed review of the literature around modifiable lifestyle risk factors that may influence MS disease progression, as outlined in the book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: the 7-step recovery program.

Standard-care

containing general health information sourced from standard MS websites.

Group Type OTHER

Standard-care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Content in standard-care arm was adapted from MS-related websites

Interventions

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Lifestyle modification

Content in the intervention arm was adapted from an evidence-based lifestyle modification program for people with MS outlined in print previously presented in a face-to-face format. The integrated lifestyle modification program translates the research evidence regarding modification of lifestyle related risk factors and health outcomes based on a detailed review of the literature around modifiable lifestyle risk factors that may influence MS disease progression, as outlined in the book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: the 7-step recovery program.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard-care

Content in standard-care arm was adapted from MS-related websites

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Be able to read, write, and speak English;
2. Be 18 years old or over;
3. Have a confirmed diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS by a neurologist;
4. Be able to access the internet and be able to view sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Experiencing any serious co-morbid chronic illness or neurological illness/injury other than MS that would threaten regular participation or significantly affect the outcome measures in its own right, such as motor neurone disease or stroke, as determined by the study investigators;
2. Currently participating in another study or self-management program involving modification of lifestyle.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Melbourne

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Sandra L Neate, Doctor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Melbourne

Locations

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The University of Melbourne

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Site Status

Countries

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Australia

References

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Jelinek, G. (2016). Overcoming multiple sclerosis: the evidence-based 7 step recovery program. Atlantic Books.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Marck CH, De Livera AM, Brown CR, Neate SL, Taylor KL, Weiland TJ, Hadgkiss EJ, Jelinek GA. Health outcomes and adherence to a healthy lifestyle after a multimodal intervention in people with multiple sclerosis: Three year follow-up. PLoS One. 2018 May 23;13(5):e0197759. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197759. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29791509 (View on PubMed)

Hadgkiss EJ, Jelinek GA, Weiland TJ, Pereira NG, Marck CH, van der Meer DM. The association of diet with quality of life, disability, and relapse rate in an international sample of people with multiple sclerosis. Nutr Neurosci. 2015 Apr;18(3):125-36. doi: 10.1179/1476830514Y.0000000117. Epub 2014 Mar 17.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24628020 (View on PubMed)

Vickrey BG, Hays RD, Harooni R, Myers LW, Ellison GW. A health-related quality of life measure for multiple sclerosis. Qual Life Res. 1995 Jun;4(3):187-206. doi: 10.1007/BF02260859.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 7613530 (View on PubMed)

Krupp LB, LaRocca NG, Muir-Nash J, Steinberg AD. The fatigue severity scale. Application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Arch Neurol. 1989 Oct;46(10):1121-3. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1989.00520460115022.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 2803071 (View on PubMed)

Learmonth YC, Dlugonski DD, Pilutti LA, Sandroff BM, Motl RW. The reliability, precision and clinically meaningful change of walking assessments in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2013 Nov;19(13):1784-91. doi: 10.1177/1352458513483890. Epub 2013 Apr 15.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23587605 (View on PubMed)

Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983 Jun;67(6):361-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 6880820 (View on PubMed)

Hohol MJ, Orav EJ, Weiner HL. Disease steps in multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal study comparing disease steps and EDSS to evaluate disease progression. Mult Scler. 1999 Oct;5(5):349-54. doi: 10.1177/135245859900500508.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 10516779 (View on PubMed)

Amtmann D, Bamer AM, Cook KF, Askew RL, Noonan VK, Brockway JA. University of Washington self-efficacy scale: a new self-efficacy scale for people with disabilities. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Oct;93(10):1757-65. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.05.001. Epub 2012 May 7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22575393 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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23458

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id