The effect of online training on the quality of life of caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized field trial

Caregivers of people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from a reduced quality of life (QOL). The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of home care training on the QOL of caregivers of people with MS. This was a randomized clinical trial with a pre- and post-test design. The study was conducted with 80 caregivers of people with MS covered by the Isfahan welfare organization. The eligible subjects were selected by systematic random sampling and were placed in two intervention and control groups, each 40. The intervention group received 14 video clips of 15–30 min in eight weekly online sessions about home care for people with MS. Caregiver Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis (CAREQOL-MS) was completed by the intervention and control groups before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out using chi-square, independent samples t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance. The two groups were homogenous in terms of individual characteristics. The independent samples t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean overall QOL and most of its dimensions before the intervention ( P > 0.05). However, there were significant differences between the intervention and control groups immediately after the intervention ( P < 0.05). There was also no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean score of all QOL dimensions except for the physical dimension ( P < 0.03) one month after the intervention. Online home care training can improve the QOL of caregivers of people with MS. Nurses are suggested to use similar online educational and supportive programs to improve the QOL of caregivers of people with MS. This study is registered by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials under the code IRCT20190712044181N1, 2019-08-07.