Identification of Inappropriate Diets in People with Multiple Sclerosis with Relapses in the Past Year: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common and debilitating neurological diseases at the young age. Previous studies have suggested that nutrition as an environmental factor plays an important role in the development of the disease and its relapse. Therefore, this study aimed to identify inappropriate diet in patients with MS with relapses in the past year. Methods: This study was conducted in a qualitative paradigm with a phenomenological approach in 2019. 15 patients with MS and 5 specialists from Rasht City, Iran, participated in the study. Participants were selected by purposeful sampling method with maximum diversity, and the unstructured interviews were done to the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Attride-Stirling thematic analysis approach. Findings: From the total interviews, three global themes were identified: 1- eating behaviors, 2- self-regulation in eating behaviors, and 3- malnutrition. Organizing themes for eating behaviors included “eating ready meals and inappropriate cooking”, for self-regulation in eating behaviors included “temptation, purpose, and meal management”, and for the malnutrition included “insufficiencies and excesses”. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the diet of people with MS with a history of relapsing, in the field of nutritional behaviors, self-regulation, and malnutrition has some deficiencies that the patients and specialists’ perceptions have an effective role in relapse of the disease. Accordingly, it seems that further research and development of educational interventions to improve the diet of these people is necessary.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• diet
• relapse
• qualitative research