Investigating the Occupational Performance Problems in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis in Relapsing-Remitting Phase: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common disabling neurologic diseases worldwide. Although occupational performance problems are reported in many people living with MS, there is little information on these problems in people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). This study aims to determine occupational performance problems in people with RRMS. Materials and Methods: The Canadian occupational performance measure was used to collect data from 58 participants in the age range of 20 to 50 years. The participants were recruited via the convenience sampling method from a neurology outpatient unit in a general hospital in Tehran City, Iran, in 2020. The data were analyzed using the Spearman, Man-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: A total of 91 activities in self-care, 96 activities in productivity, and 67 activities in leisure were identified by the participants as their priorities. No significant difference was observed between the mean scores of occupational performance with age, gender, employment status, and marital status. Still, there was a considerable difference between occupational performance and education level. Conclusion: People with RRMS suffer from many occupational performance problems, especially in productivity areas. Although occupational therapy interventions are essential in promoting self-care and activities of daily living, engaging in productive and instrumental activities of daily living is more cost-effective and valuable to promote independence in people with RRMS.

Keywords

• Multiple sclerosis
• Self-care
• Leisure activities
• Occupational therapy