More MS news articles for October 2003

Information needs of people with MS examined

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/?section=aboutms&content=proj371

October 9, 2003
MS Trust

On 8 October, the MS Trust officially launched the results of our Information Needs study at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.

Conducted by researchers from Loughborough University, the study provides a snapshot of the needs of people with MS at the turn of the century. The views of 2133 people with MS - about one in forty of the UK MS population - make this the largest study of its kind to date.

The survey highlights a number of key findings:

Someone with MS should be seen as a person, not as "a person with MS"
Before 1980, fewer than 20% of people received any information at diagnosis
Between 2000 and 2001, 30% of people still received no information
Although information provision has improved, it lacks consistency and on specific topics is uneven
A distinction needs to be made between needs at diagnosis and over the longer-term

Edith Rifkind, who chaired the launch in Edinburgh, said "I was diagnosed with MS in December 1997 and was fortunate to be able to seek constructive and realistic information and support. Although incurable, MS is far from untreatable, and information is crucial to promoting a positive outlook."

For more information on the study, go to the Research pages.