A Telemedicine Mindfulness-based Intervention for People With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Caregivers

Improving the Quality of Life of People With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Caregivers With a Telemedicine Mindfulness-Based Intervention

The aim of the project is to investigate the impact of a multiple sclerosis specific telemedicine mindfulness-based Intervention on the quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis and their caregivers.

The mindfulness protocol will be modified according to multiple sclerosis clinical peculiarities and implemented with a multimedia web-based software.

The project will be divided in two parts. During the first phase of the project, a standard mindfulness-based stress reduction protocol will be modified according to clinical peculiarities and specific needs of people with multiple sclerosis. In the meanwhile, a multimedia software with these teaching will be developed, so that the training could be available online, from home. The protocol and the software will be tested for ergonomics in a pilot, qualitative, study.

In the second phase, a randomized clinical trial will be performed. One-hundred and twenty multiple sclerosis patients-caregivers couples will be randomly allocated in the experimental or to the control group. Subjects in the experimental group will attend the telemedicine mindfulness intervention, while controls will join a psycho-educational telemedicine program. At baseline, post-treatment and at a 6-month follow-up, participants will be assessed for quality of life, anxiety, depression, quality of sleep and mindfulness level. A subgroup of subjects will be assessed with actigraphs, for an objective evaluation of their sleep and physical activity. Experimental subjects will be assessed for participation and engagement to the treatment. Data will be analyzed with a complex longitudinal design, considering both within and between groups comparisons.

The dissemination process will involve scientific publication on neurological and psychological journals, a book, scientific meeting presentations and communication to general media. If there will be a positive effect of the mindfulness software, it will be diffused to multiple sclerosis clinics and associations.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
• Ability to communicate and to understand tasks.
• No change of disease-modifying treatment in the 3 months before the enrolment.
• No clinical relapses or use of steroid treatment during the 4 weeks before the enrolment.
• Availability of a personal computer, smartphone or tablet (compatible with the software).
• Provided informed consent for study participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being a person who lives with the multiple sclerosis patient and provides him/her with most care and assistance
• Ability to communicate and to understand tasks
• Availability of a personal computer, smartphone or tablet (compatible with the software).
• Provided informed consent for study participation