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An evaluation of a multiple sclerosis liaison nurse

Lewin Rehabilitation Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge

E. Young

Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh

CP Warlow

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

The workload and benefits of a new liaison nurse service for multiple sclerosis patients were assessed by retrospective examination of the nurse's records, interviews with patients and carers, and a postal questionnaire survey of general practitioners (GPs). The average number of contacts with 136 patients in two years was 14. Twenty-one to forty-four per cent of patients were referred to various therapists and 17% for respite care. Eighty-eight per cent of patients found the nurse helpful and 39-54% reported improved coping, mood, confidence and knowledge of multiple sclerosis (MS). Carers reported similar benefits. GPs found the nurse helpful with 66% of their patients, and she detected unrecognized disabilities in 23%. Twenty-three per cent of GPs learnt something about MS from her and 40% of GPs said they would purchase her service from their budget. Patients, carers and GPs felt that the service was helpful and that it improved patients' and families' psychological well-being, reduced GPs' workload and increased patients' and doctors' knowledge of the management of multiple sclerosis.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 9, No. 3, 219-226 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/026921559500900307


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