STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF TRANSFERS DIRECTED TO CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Abstract

 Introduction: one of the main causes of physical injuries suffered by the caregivers of dependant patients with multiple sclerosis is the need to transfer the patients. This study evaluates the efficiency of an educational program of postural transfers, directed to caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis, to decrease the pain and increase ca-regivers´quality of life. Material and method: a nonrandomized controlled clinical trial. was conducted. The family members and the caregivers of the Multiple-Sclerosis Foundation of Madrid were chosen by the investigator. The sample was composed by 16 people that were put in 10 cases and 6 controls. Inclusion criteria were: to be the main caregiver of the patient, less than 75 years old, be responsible for a patient weighing more than 50 kg and Barthel index <40. Caregivers, operated on spinal disc disease or unwilling to implement the educational program, were ex-cluded. Both groups filled in the visual-analogue Scale, the Oswestry disability questionnaire for lumbar pain and the life-quality questionnaire SF-36. These case groups participated in a theoretical-session and in a practical-sessionabout how to carry out the transfers. Results: the final and initial results were compared in both groups, such as differences founded in the case-group regarding the control-group. In all cases p values were more than p=0,05 in every evaluated parameter, such as they are not statistically significant, although the comparison of the ranges seems to indicate a trend towards the hypothesis of the study. Discussion: even though not statistically significant differences were found the results seem to indicate a positive effect over all the studied aspects. Future investigations are needed to obtain more conclusive results.