The effect of telenursing education of self-care on health-promoting behaviors in patients with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: A clinical trial study.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is associated with decrease in health-promoting behaviors (HPBs) and require appropriate nursing interventions. Telenursing can play an important role in education of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in which face-to-face education is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effect of self-care education with telenursing approach on HPBs in patients with MS. In this clinical trial, 68 patients with MS were selected using simple random sampling from Jahrom MS Society and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=34) and control (n=34) groups. In the intervention group, educational sessions were held three days a week for six weeks. Data were collected using demographic information and Walker's Health-Promoting Lifestyle questionnaires before and immediately after the intervention. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests using SPSS software (Ver. 21). Based on the findings, immediately after the intervention, the mean score of HPBs was significantly higher (p=0.005) in the intervention group (145.38±26.66) than the control group (129.18±22.35). The means of nutrition, exercise, health responsibility, and stress management were significantly different between the intervention and control groups immediately after the intervention (p < 0.05). results this study indicated that self-care education with telenursing approach was effective on HPBs in patients with MS. It can be beneficial to employ as an educative-supportive approach in MS patients.