Illness representation in patients with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary narrative medicine study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The development of personalized interventions aimed at coping with multiple sclerosis is enriched by the understanding of patients' representations of the illness.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between patients' illness representations versus contextual factors (i.e. presence/absence and type of caregiver, engagement, frequency and type of rehabilitation), fatigue, pain, and neurological impairment.

Methods

Interviews of 28 patients were analysed through an automated text analysis procedure. After a systematic labelling procedure four illness representations were identified: daily life, search for meaning of the disease, relationship to people and the diagnosis, coping and physical growth.

Results

Findings

SUBMITTER: Paolucci T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11425788 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature