MS Research Collaborates with World-class Experts and Researchers
Both Sarah and Angela are experts in the field and developed the FACETs CBT-based group therapy course for MS fatigue together, delivered by MS Research. The conference was organised for MS healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines including MS specialist nurses and therapists.
Sarah and Angela were invited to deliver their talk, MS Fatigue: Insights and Current Perspectives for the conference delegates, which also acknowledged the enormous impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on delivering services for people living with MS. Their talk received excellent feedback from those in attendance and Angela has kindly provided the abstract for the talk here.
Abstract
The latest insights and perspectives on the impact, measurement and treatment of MS-related fatigue to include FACETS, an evidence-based group intervention and its adaptation for delivery during the Covid pandemic and for people experiencing fatigue due to other neurological conditions and long Covid.
Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). While the huge impact it has on the daily lives of people with MS and those around them is recognised, its causes and mechanisms remain largely unknown. Its invisible, variable nature can make it difficult to explain and for others to understand. It has been shown to play a key role in determining quality of life and is associated with considerable economic burden, both in terms of workforce aspects and health and care use.
In this presentation, we consider the challenges of assessing and measuring fatigue and will discuss commonly used measurement tools. Fatigue treatments are considered, and we provide a brief overview of the current evidence base, encompassing pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
The Covid pandemic necessitated the remote delivery of services and treatments, leading to greater individual choice regarding how they are accessed. We describe our experiences of moving FACETS from face-to-face to online delivery. The impact of long covid fatigue is well-documented and initial adaptation of FACETS for long Covid (and other neurological conditions) is in progress using a formal framework which we will describe.
Finally, we provide an update on future directions for fatigue management.
Key Takeaways
- Fatigue is complex and remains poorly understood.
- For many people with MS, it is the most impactful symptom and the main reason people stop working.
- Fatigue management requires a multi-disciplinary approach.
- Treatment: Behavioural approaches (cognitive behavioural and exercise) appear to be the most effective (e.g. FACETS course).
- Approaches to fatigue management need to be personalised for the individual.
Higher levels of fatigue can pose a challenge for healthcare professionals, as fatigue can interfere with adherence to treatments and rehabilitation programmes. A multidisciplinary integrated approach to managing fatigue is recommended due to its multi-faceted nature.
What Next?
Angela is also due to join Associate Professor Kamila Rasova of Charles University, Prague between the end of April to the middle of May 2023, for a collaboration on work undertaken to develop a non-pharmacological intervention for early MS, where she will also present on MS fatigue.
Speaking on the coming collaboration Angela said:
“I look forward to collaborating with Professor Rasova - we have previously worked together and published our work. Such collaborations are important as they share knowledge and experience which in turn benefits people with MS”.
Angela and Kamila were published in Multiple Sclerosis Journal for their study, Functional Electrical Stimulation for Foot Drop in people with Multiple Sclerosis: The Relevance and Importance of Addressing Quality of Movement (2021). The study on footdrop, investigated quality of movement as affected by the use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices for footdrop. Footdrop is the inability to sufficiently lift the foot at the ankle whilst walking, causing the foot to drag, which can frequently cause trips and falls.
We will provide further updates on this collaboration following the end of the study.