Behavioral practices of patients with multiple sclerosis during Covid-19 pandemic, 2020, Alnajashi/Jabbad

Webdog · Oct 22, 2020

Full text:
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241103241103

Study of 176 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients in Saudi Arabia. Spacing mine.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and Covid-19, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 became a pandemic in March 2020. As the pandemic still unfolds, uncertainty circles around the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on patients with chronic diseases, including autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

To diminish the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and lessen the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the healthcare of MS patients, it is essential to understand knowledge, attitudes, and various behavioral practices related to Covid-19 among MS patients. Therefore, this study aimed to look at the behavioral practices related to Covid-19 among patients with MS.

A total of 176 MS patients diagnosed at least one year before the survey were conveniently sampled online in Saudi Arabia and their data collected using a structured interview questionnaire in electronic Google form. We determined the reliability of the questionnaire by measuring its internal consistency in a pilot sample of 30 participants.

Overall, more than 80% of participants had good knowledge and attitudes towards Covid-19. However, this did not correlate well with the impact on healthcare (r = 0.06). Our study revealed that 46% of participants were anxious about taking their medication, and 32% of participants missed their hospital appointments. Furthermore, 15% of the participants had a relapse but did not go to the hospital because of the pandemic, 15.9% stopped their DMTs, and 35.2% missed drug infusions or refills.

Our study revealed overall good knowledge and attitudes related to Covid-19 among MS patients. However, the healthcare impact was considerable, as 32% of the participants missed their hospital appointments, and another 15% had a relapse. This highlights the significance of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the healthcare of patients with MS. Measures to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on healthcare service delivery to patients with MS, such as telemedicine, should be strongly encouraged.
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Results said:

Attitudes related to Covid-19 among MS patients

Our participants had a good attitude overall. The majority of participants (n = 146, 83%) knew and followed the ministry of health home quarantine instructions. Of all participants, 158 (89.8%) mentioned that they regularly washed their hands. Most participants, that is 148 (84.1%), followed social distancing rules regularly. Concerning the quarantine guidelines, 144 (81.8%) participants responded that they always stayed at home.
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Behavioral practices of patients with multiple sclerosis during Covid-19 pandemic, 2020, Alnajashi/Jabbad

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