Predicting Health Promotion and Quality of Life With Symptom Clusters and Social Supports Among Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.
Wenhui Zhang, Heather Becker, Alexa K Stuifbergen and 1 others
PMID 28399316WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with longstanding MS had symptoms that clustered together, and social support was associated with health promotion and quality of life.
Symptom clusters did not predict physical activity.
Key findings
01Factor analysis grouped symptoms into two clusters: fatigue, depression, stress, sleep, and cognitive ability; and pain intensity and pain interference.
02After controlling for demographics and functional limitations, the symptom clusters and social support significantly predicted health promotion total and several subscales.
03Symptom clusters, social support, and health promotion total significantly predicted quality of life, with the final model accounting for 0.51 of variance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience sample from MS Society chapters in Texas, and most participants were non-Hispanic White, so results may not generalise. All data were self-report, so social desirability or response style could affect answers. Participants were survivors in an 18-year longitudinal study, which may select for different health promotion behaviour or quality of life experience. The study was correlational, so it cannot show that symptoms, social support, or health promotion caused quality of life. With a large sample, small correlations may be statistically significant without meaning a noticeable daily-life impact.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no financial or other conflicts of interest. The study was supported in part by grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that improving symptom clusters or social support will raise health promotion or quality of life. The study measured associations at one time point, so it cannot show cause.