An Integrated Clinician, Patient, and Researcher Partnership to Develop Interventions for People with Multiple Sclerosis

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<h3>Research Objectives</h3> People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) face challenges managing complex symptoms and navigating daily life. Self-management interventions may help overcome these challenges, but research is lacking on how to tailor self-management interventions for people with MS. This study describes a clinician-researcher-stakeholder partnership to design, pilot, and evaluate the feasibility of a new self-management intervention "Self-management Education and Learning Forum for People with MS (SELF for MS)." <h3>Design</h3> SELF for MS reflects an integrated, iterative clinician-stakeholder-researcher development process involving several key steps: 1) review of the clinical and self-management evidence base, 2) stakeholder needs assessment, 3) development of an Advisory Committee, and 4) iterative program development. <h3>Setting</h3> A comprehensive MS care center in urban, Southeastern USA. <h3>Participants</h3> Clinicians (speech language pathologists, neurologists, physical therapists, exercise specialists, psychologists), MS stakeholders (people with MS and care partners), and MS researchers collaborated to develop SELF for MS through an iterative research and design process. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The outcome of the described clinician-researcher-stakeholder partnership is the development and pilot testing of the SELF for MS program. <h3>Results</h3> SELF for MS was successfully developed over a two and a half-year period. The engagement of clinicians and MS stakeholders in partnership with MS researchers was instrumental to creating an intervention that meets patient needs in a clinical setting. <h3>Conclusions</h3> An iterative approach involving clinicians, MS stakeholders, and MS researchers resulted in a comprehensive self-management intervention centered on the needs of people with MS while reflecting best clinical practice. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> No disclosures.