Occupational performance in multiple sclerosis and its relationship with quality of life and fatigue

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Performance and perceived satisfaction of daily occupations in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect the perception of their quality of life and be impacted by the level of fatigue. AIM: To describe the performance and occupational self-perception, as well as to analyze whether there is a relationship between the perception of occupational performance and the quality of life and perceived fatigue. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING: Participants were referred by the services of Neurology of the various hospitals in Madrid. The assessment process was performed either at the MS’ associations, in the participants’ home, or at the Laboratory of Cognitive Intervention of the Health Sciences Faculty of the University. POPULATION: A total sample of 30 people with MS (pwMS) selected by non-probabilistic consecutive sampling during a three-months uptake patient recruitment period. METHODS: The outcome measures used were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life 54 (MSQoL-54). Descriptive analysis, parametric and non-parametric tests and multiple linear regression models were used. RESULTS: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between occupational performance and physical and mental health. Also, high physical health scores were associated with high satisfaction scores. Multiple regression models indicated that high levels of satisfaction were associated with high levels of physical health (P= 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The better the perception of the physical aspects that influence the quality of life, the better the perceived satisfaction of pwMS. Fatigue may not influence self-perceived satisfaction and performance. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The physical factors affecting perceived satisfaction should be considered when planning interventions to promote quality of life in pwMS. Although fatigue associated with MS may influence perceived performance and satisfaction, no relevant associations were found between variables.