Effects of education level and employment status on HRQoL in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Purpose To evaluate the effects of education level and employment status on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large cohort of patients affected by relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients This study included 648 patients with RRMS attending 40 Italian MS centers. Inclusion c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Multiple sclerosis Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 783 - 791
Main Authors: Patti, F., Pozzilli, C., Montanari, E., Pappalardo, A., Piazza, L., Levi, A., Onesti, E., Pesci, I.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.2007
Arnold
Sage Publications Ltd
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Disability Evaluation
Educational Status
Employment
Female
Health Status
Humans
Immunomodulators
Italy
Male
Medical sciences
Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - physiopathology
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - psychology
Multivariate Analysis
Neurology
Patient Selection
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Quality of Life
Sexual Behavior
Italy
employment status
Education level
multiple sclerosis
QoL
Italian
Multiple sclerosis
Inclusion
Questionnaire
Awareness
Multivariate analysis
Inflammatory disease
Disability
Degenerative disease
Diagnosis
Ability
Human
Glatiramer acetate
Nervous system diseases
Chronic disease
Quality of life
Health status
Treatment
Higher education
Central nervous system disease
Interferon
Immunosuppressive agent
ISSN:1352-4585, 1477-0970
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Purpose To evaluate the effects of education level and employment status on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large cohort of patients affected by relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients This study included 648 patients with RRMS attending 40 Italian MS centers. Inclusion criteria were an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 1.0 and 5.5; stable disease on enrollment; and no previous treatment with interferons, glatiramer acetate, or immunosuppressive drugs. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire (MSQoL-54). Results Employed patients scored significantly higher than other patient groups in the majority of MSQoL-54 domains. Similarly, patients with academic degrees and secondary education had higher scores than those with primary education (ie, eight years of education) in several domains of HRQoL. Patients who were employed with a high educational level achieved significantly better scores than unemployed patients with a lower educational level. In multivariate analysis, occupation and educational level were found to be significant and independent predictors of HRQoL. Conclusions The results of our study suggest the importance of sustaining employment after a recent diagnosis of MS. In addition, education has a great influence on HRQoL; a higher education level may determine a stronger awareness of the disease, and a better ability to cope with the challenges of a chronic disease such as MS. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 783-791. http://msj.sagepub.com
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ISSN:1352-4585
1477-0970
DOI:10.1177/1352458506073511