TELESM-edu.Nursing: a Personalised Nursing Intervention for People With Multiple Sclerosis

TELESM-edu.Nursing: Efficacy of a Personalised Nursing Intervention for the Management of People With Multiple Sclerosis

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the telenursing intervention "TELESM-edu.nursing" on people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), specifically focusing on their navigational capacity within the healthcare system (Navigation Health Literacy) and their perceived level of Health Literacy.

The study will also assess the effectiveness of the intervention in improving patient satisfaction with current therapy, patients' beliefs and attitudes towards the prescribed therapeutic regimen, satisfaction of informational needs, trust in nurses, and degree of disability.

The secondary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of a personalised telenursing programme for pwMS. Feasibility will be assessed based on: (I) the ability to recruit and retain participants, measured through adherence rates and dropout rates in the intervention group; (II) participants' acceptability, usability, and satisfaction with the intervention; and (III) healthcare staff satisfaction and perceived usability of the intervention.

The main research questions addressed in this study are:

Does the "TELESM-edu.nursing" intervention improve patients' Navigation Health Literacy and overall Health Literacy levels? Does the intervention improve patient satisfaction with therapy and fulfilment of informational needs? Does the intervention positively influence patients' beliefs and attitudes towards their treatment? Does the intervention increase trust in nurses? What is the impact of the intervention on patients' level of disability? Is the telenursing programme feasible, acceptable, and sustainable for both patients and healthcare professionals?

Both study groups will receive the standard in-person informational and educational programme, as well as routine follow-up visits according to the established care pathway. Participants assigned to the intervention group will additionally receive a personalised educational programme lasting six months. This programme will be delivered monthly by a nurse through educational video pills and nurse-led teleconsultations.

Participants will be required to watch the video pills and take part in teleconsultations.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients of both sexes (male and female)
• Age 18 years or older
• Confirmed diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS)
• Currently receiving pharmacological treatment for multiple sclerosis
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 7.5 or lower
• Ability to read and understand Italian
• Ability to provide written informed consent
• Access to a suitable device (smartphone, tablet, or computer with a webcam)
• Access to a home internet connection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age younger than 18 years
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score higher than 7.5
• Presence of psychiatric disorders that may interfere with participation in the study
• Presence of cognitive impairment that may interfere with participation in the study