The Impact of COVID-19 on the Lives of Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: 1 Year Into the Pandemic

Abstract

CE INFORMATION ACTIVITY AVAILABLE ONLINE: To access the article and evaluation online, go to https://www.highmarksce.com/mscare. TARGET AUDIENCE: The target audience for this activity is physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nursing professionals, mental health professionals, social workers, and other health care providers involved in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Compare early-pandemic national and international research assessing the emotional, social, and economic status of patients with MS with the current study of a cohort of patients at the University of Kansas Medical Center MS Clinic 1 year into the COVID pandemic. Characterize and describe the ways the COVID pandemic affected this cohort of patients with MS. ACCREDITATION: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and Intellisphere, LLC. The CMSC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive .5 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change. PHYSICIANS: The CMSC designates this journal-based activity for a maximum of .5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. NURSES: The CMSC designates this enduring material for .5 contact hour of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) (none in the area of pharmacology). PSYCHOLOGISTS: This activity is awarded .5 CE credits. SOCIAL WORKERS: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the CMSC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The CMSC maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive .5 continuing education credits. DISCLOSURES: Francois Bethoux, MD, Editor in Chief of the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC), and Alissa Mary Willis, MD, Associate Editor of IJMSC, have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Authors Yasir Jassam, MBChB, MRCP (UK), Sharon Lynch; MD; Sara Baker, MA; Suzanne Hunt, MS; Amanda Thuringer, DO; and Jared Bruce, PhD have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. The staff at IJMSC, CMSC, and Intellisphere, LLC who are in a position to influence content have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Laurie Scudder, DNP, NP, Continuing Education Director CMSC, has served as a planner and reviewer for this activity. She has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. METHOD OF PARTICIPATION: Release Date: May 1, 2022; Valid for Credit through: May 1, 2023 In order to receive CE credit, participants must: 1) Review the continuing education information, including learning objectives and author disclosures.2) Study the educational content.3) Complete the post-test and evaluation, which are available at https://www.highmarksce.com/mscare. Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the evaluation. There is no fee to participate in this activity. DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the FDA. The CMSC and Intellisphere, LLC do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the CMSC or Intellisphere, LLC. DISCLAIMER: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any medications, diagnostic procedures, or treatments discussed in this publication should not be used by clinicians or other health care professionals without first evaluating their patients’ conditions, considering possible contraindications or risks, reviewing any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparing any therapeutic approach with the recommendations of other authorities.

Occupational outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review with meta-analysis

“…Motolese et al also described that 26.3% had a working hour reduction and only 43.2% kept the usual workplace ( 46 ). In a different scenario, an American cross-sectional study revealed that more than half (55.8%) of the PwMS did not have their jobs affected by the pandemic ( 67 ). The other participants who had employment somehow changed included 22.7% who reported increased remote work, 11.2% who reported working more than usual, and 11.2% who had to work with children in the house.…”