Life Experiences of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis About Their Spasticity: A Phenomenological Study

ÖZKAN İ., Dunya C., Demir S.

CLINICAL NURSING RESEARCH, vol.32, no.1, pp.49-59, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 32 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/10547738221119346
  • Journal Name: CLINICAL NURSING RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.49-59
  • Keywords: spasticity, life experience, multiple sclerosis, diseases, clinical research areas, qualitative study, MANAGEMENT, IMPACT, RELIABILITY, PEOPLE, SCALE
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Spasticity is one of the main symptoms that is most common in patients with Multiple Sclerosis and causes increased disability. The aim of this study is to understand the experiences of patients with Multiple Sclerosis about their spasticity from their perspective. This study was conducted as a qualitative study with a Hermeneutic phenomenological framework. The data were evaluated by using VanManen's thematic analysis method. As a result of the data analysis, four main themes were elicited, namely, "the meaning of spasticity for the patient," "the difficulties of living with spasticity," 'coping with spasticity," and "the new me created by spasticity." It was understood that spasticity is a symptom that brings about difficulties in psychological, social, and working life as well as physical difficulties. Nurses should be aware of the psychological symptoms as well as the physical symptoms that patients experience due to spasticity and should create a patient-specific management program.