This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Einarsson, U Articles by Holmqvist, L W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Einarsson, U Articles by Holmqvist, L W. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Multiple sclerosis in Stockholm County. A pilot study exploring the feasibility of assessment of impairment, disability and handicap by home visits

Division of Physiotherapy and Unit of Neuroepidemiology and Health Services Research, Stockholm, Sweden

K Gottberg

S Fredrikson

G Bergendal

Unit of Neuroepidemiology and Health Services Research, Division of Neurology, Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

L von Koch

Unit of Neuroepidemiology and Health Services Research, Division of Neurology, Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Högskolan Dalarna, Falun

L Widén Holmqvist

Division of Physiotherapy and Unit of Neuroepidemiology and Health Services Research, Division of Neurology, Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Objective: A pilot study performed within Stockholm County to evaluate the feasibility of collecting data using a comprehensive evaluation package administered in the home environment to assess impairment, disability and handicap in order to explore the consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: Home visits to 26 purposefully selected MS patients with different levels of disability, in both ordinary and sheltered living. The comprehensive evaluation package included: biographical data, Mini-Mental State Examination, Free Recall and Recognition of 12 Random Words Test, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Beck Depression Index, Lindmark Motor Capacity Assessment, time to walk 10 metres, Nine-hole Peg Test, Barthel ADL Index, Katz Extended ADL Index, Frenchay Activities Index, Sickness Impact Profile and frequency of falls and injurious falls.

Results: This pilot study demonstrates that the proposed methods can be used to evaluate MS patients differing in levels of disability and forms of living. The data collection method, based on home visits, was well accepted by the patients, their spouses and salaried personal assistants and could be performed within 2–2¹/₂ hours.

Conclusions: The evaluation package used in this pilot study is suitable for use in population-based studies and it should provide comprehensive information on the impact and consequences of MS on patients, and should contribute to the identification of areas in which the provision of rehabilitation and health care services needs to be improved.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 17, No. 3, 294-303 (2003)
DOI: 10.1191/0269215503cr611oa


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Nilsagard, C. Lundholm, E. Denison, and L-G. Gunnarsson Predicting accidental falls in people with multiple sclerosis -- a longitudinal study Clinical Rehabilitation, March 1, 2009; 23(3): 259 - 269. [Abstract] [PDF]

				U Einarsson, K Gottberg, L von Koch, S Fredrikson, C Ytterberg, Y P Jin, M Andersson, and L W. Holmqvist Cognitive and motor function in people with multiple sclerosis in Stockholm County Multiple Sclerosis, June 1, 2006; 12(3): 340 - 353. [Abstract] [PDF]