Review of a 2015 study conducted by Grace Olakunle, Faculty of Health Sciences/Department of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway; Her Master’s thesis in Public Health : Patient Initiated Self-Care and Positive Health Outcomes in Patients Living with Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Study. Research paper by Grace Olakunle .
Grace Olakunle chose a great topic for her Master’s thesis in Public Health. She evaluated 78 Scandinavian patients (aged 35 to 67 years) diagnosed with MS, who had remarkable improvements in managing MS. Just like me, she was looking for a pattern- what do all these successful cases have in common?
A quick note here: I am not sure, but this study likely includes Mona and Anna, as the data was collected from the same source, NAFKAM, that I described in my other blog (that one was based on the evaluation of 12 patients with remarkable improvements, with two cases, Mona and Anna, described in great details, while this study evaluates 78 patients).
Here is the summary:
The purpose of the study was to find out the daily routines and self-care practices that helped them live better with MS.
The data came from the Registry of Exceptional Courses of Disease (established at the National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM), Norway in 2002).
All the participants were using CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). Roughly 25% of them were using alternative treatment alone for extended periods of time and have experienced significant improvements of their multiple sclerosis.
The research questions were:
1. What do you do to live better with MS?
2. What changes have been important in achieving this goal?
3. How important is the role of self-care in having success/improving MS (from their perspective)?
Highlights of this study:
1.“Positive change” is the key ingredient to reverse MS
Positive change was considered the most important factor to live a better life with MS
They felt that conventional medicine lacks treatment options.
They started to look for ways to self-manage the MS.
Day by day they adopted healthy changes i.e. dietary changes, herbs and supplements, plus they choose an exercise program.
They made a priority to change their mindset and adopt a new approach to think and live with MS. They changed their role as a patient from passive to active (taking responsibility and charge of their own health, including the use of alternative therapies).
Most of them turned to CAM because they experienced severe side effects from the conventional treatments. CAM helped them take control of their lives, better understand and cope with MS.
Commonly used CAM included exercise, vitamins, herbal and mineral supplements, relaxation practices, meditation, acupuncture and massage.
2.Three factors played a critical role in experiencing better health.
Note: self-care strategies involved taking radical changes at times (i.e. leaving a job, or a toxic relationship, re-evaluation of their core values, setting new goals, etc.)
I. Psychological factors: they emphasize the importance of reducing stress (related to work and personal relationships).
Self-care strategies included: limiting the stress on the daily lives and take initiatives; prioritizing their needs and values, setting goals and limits; prioritizing in job situations; appreciating the positive aspects of their life.
II. Physical factors – with a focus on exercise and nutrition
Self-care strategies included: making changes in physical and mental activities; making changes in diet/nutrition (over half of the participants credited their improvements to changes in their diet); focusing on physical needs, aspirations and abilities; pursuing their hobbies and vocations; reducing unhealthy habits.
III. Precipitating factors – factors that affected their symptoms
Self-care strategies included: triggered awareness; improving social, emotional and financial support; maintaining healthy relationships; maintaining a positive self-image; surrounding themselves with positive energy; valuing family members and work colleagues.
“I see myself as responsible for my own life and health. I have made my choices and my body has responded to them …”
“I have become better at saying stop and not let myself get stressed … whatever I was not able to finish today, I leave until another day …”
“I had to leave a very demanding middle-leadership job …”
“Exercise, make trips out in nature, yoga, flexible job (part-time), play music (…, guitar and violin) diet …”
“I have taken control of my life and health. .. Daily omega 3 has given me a better concentration and less joint pains. Abstaining from sugar has removed the pain in my neck and back …”
