RESUMO
Introduction: Long term diseases and their psycho-cognitive physiologic defects or signs affect life quality of the patients in different life stages and threaten their health resulting in their disabilities. Multiple sclerosis [MS] as a long-term life threatening disease can make acute disabilities affecting patients' life trend. Unknown manner of disease, poor prognosis and treatment on one hand and hard prevention on the other hand have all limited the treatment to a supportive one although patients can have almost a normal length of life with appropriate self-care. Self care can well diminish the disease extension and complications; provides the patient with a better life quality and his family with a better coping ability against new conditions. So this study was carried out with the above title
Methods: This study was quasi-experimental and the method of data gathering was questionnaires which included two sections as follows: the first section included the demographic characteristics such as; age, educational level and the second was Life Quality Questionnaire. 28 MS patients referring to private and clinic of Isfahan Alzahra hospital were selected by convenient sampling. After selection, the subjects were asked to attend three educational sessions [each 45 minutes]. The sessions were held 1 to 2 times per week according to patient's condition and the working shift. After that, the subjects started self-care programs for three weeks and then life quality questionnaire was filled either with the patients or the researcher. The findings were analyzed and compared with former findings through descriptive and inferential statistics
Results: Findings showed a noticeable increase in life quality mean score in domain of physical function [P<0.001], psycho cognitive domain [p<0.001], social function [P<0.001] and general health [p<0.001] after self care program. There was also a sharp increase in total life quality score after self-care program compared with before that
Discussion: The findings showed that self-care could positively affect life quality items so that familial life, economic status and social interactions can be influenced with physical ability improvement. It is hoped that by formation of educational supportive associations or at least a well equipped rehabilitation center for the patients, the patients can be provided with facilities of self-care as well as a condition in which the patients themselves carry out their self care
Conclusion: According to this study, the researchers suggest that, this manner can increase these patients' share in daily living activities so that they can enjoy their lives. Special wards for exercising self-care activity programs can be established to enhance mood and social functions of these patients