Locomotion and Activities of Daily Living of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
The aim of this study was to assess the locomotion of patients with multiple sclerosis and to explore the challenges they face in accomplishing the activities of daily living.
Methods. A quantitative study was performed at a teaching hospital in the Neurology Unit, during January through February, 2020. The inclusion criteria for patients were as follows: patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and illness duration of more than one year. In total, 80 patients participated in the study (response rate – 100.0%). A questionnaire was developed by the authors in according with the scientific literature. The study protocol was approved by the Centre of Bioethics at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, no. BEC-SL(B)-112.
Results. The majority of the patients with multiple sclerosis (75.0%) were women and the mean of age in the patients was 22.89 ± 3.97 years. Their illness lasted approximately 3.85 ± 3.01 years. The patients with a longer multiple sclerosis illness duration had various symptoms more frequently than those who experienced illness for a relatively shorter period of time: hand tremor (78.9% and 57.1%, respectively, P = 0.03), difficulties to stand with toes in (34.2% and 4.8%, respectively, P = 0.01), limited turning around for 360o (57.9% and 16.7%, respectively, P < 0.001). Almost half of the respondents (41.2%) were independent going to the supermarket; however, the patients with illness duration less than 7 years went to the supermarket on their own more often than the patients living with diagnoses of multiple sclerosis for a longer period of time (54.8% and 26.3%, respectively, P = 0.01).
Conclusions. Movement problems and dependency in activities of daily living are relevant to patients who are ill with multiple sclerosis. These problems are increasing with a longer duration of the disease.
Correspondence to . Department of Nursing and Care, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 4, LT-50009 Kaunas, Lithuania E-mail: akvile.rimkeviciute@stud.lsmu.lt