Journals / Eskisehir Medical Journal / 2026 / Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Exploring the Knowledge Gaps of Caregivers in Multiple Sclerosis Care

Multiple Skleroz Hasta Yakınlarının Bilgi Düzeyinin ve Eksikliklerinin İncelenmesi

Zeynep Ziroglu(UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, ANKARA HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER)0000-0002-2859-5072
Taşkın Duman(Hatay Mustafa Kemal University)0000-0002-6552-4193
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-02-24
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Informing patients and relatives at the initial diagnosis and at regular intervals during the disease process will positively affect the long-term prognosis of the disease and will improve the quality of life of both patients and their relatives.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Introduction: The aim of this study is to measure Multiple Sclerosis patients' relatives knowledge level about the disease and to determine the clinical and sociodemographic parameters affecting this.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: The study included literate first-degree relatives of 120 Multiple Sclerosis patients who were followed up Adult Multiple Sclerosis outpatient clinic in our tertiary university hospital between 02.01.2023 and 03.02.2023.
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Conclusion & Impact:Informing patients and relatives at the initial diagnosis and at regular intervals during the disease process will positively affect the long-term prognosis of the disease and will improve the quality of life of both patients and their relatives.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2023 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Multiple Sclerosis · Questionnaire · First-degree relative

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to measure Multiple Sclerosis patients' relatives knowledge level about the disease and to determine the clinical and sociodemographic parameters affecting this. Methods: The study included literate first-degree relatives of 120 Multiple Sclerosis patients who were followed up Adult Multiple Sclerosis outpatient clinic in our tertiary university hospital between 02.01.2023 and 03.02.2023. We used Multiple Sclerosis Information Questionnaire. Results: The Multiple Sclerosis Information Questionnaire total score was 10.9±4.5 (min-max: 1-22). There was a positive correlation between education level and total score. (p<0.001). It was observed that the relatives of the patients who used second-line drugs, received intravenous therapy and had a high Expanded Disability Status Scale score had a higher level of knowledge (p=0.014, p=0.003, p=0.006, respectively).Participants had the lowest score about the pathophysiology and clinical course of the disease. Conclusion: The relatives of Multiple Sclerosis patients did not have sufficient information about the disease. Informing patients and relatives at the initial diagnosis and at regular intervals during the disease process will positively affect the long-term prognosis of the disease and will improve the quality of life of both patients and their relatives.

Özet

Giriş: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Multiple Skleroz (MS) hastalarının yakınlarının hastalık hakkındaki bilgi düzeyini ölçmek ve bunu etkileyen klinik ve sosyodemografik parametreleri belirlemektir. Yöntem: Çalışmaya, 02.01.2023–03.02.2023 tarihleri arasında üçüncü basamak üniversite hastanesi Erişkin MS polikliniğinde takip edilen 120 MS hastasının okur-yazar, birinci derece yakınları dahil edildi. Multiple Skleroz Bilgi Anketi (MSBA) kullanıldı. Bulgular: MSBA toplam puanı 10,9±4,5 (min–maks: 1–22) idi. Eğitim düzeyi ile toplam puan arasında pozitif korelasyon vardı (p<0,001). İkinci basamak tedavi kullanan, intravenöz tedavi alan ve EDSS skoru yüksek olan hastaların yakınlarının bilgi düzeyinin daha yüksek olduğu gözlendi (sırasıyla p=0,014; p=0,003; p=0,006). Katılımcıların en düşük puanı hastalığın fizyopatolojisi ve klinik seyri hakkında aldıkları görüldü. Sonuç: MS hastalarının yakınlarının hastalıkla ilgili yeterli bilgiye sahip olmadığı saptandı. Hastaların ve yakınlarının ilk tanı anında ve hastalık sürecinde düzenli aralıklarla bilgilendirilmesi, hastalığın uzun dönem prognozunu olumlu yönde etkileyecek ve hem hastaların hem de yakınlarının yaşam kalitesini artıracaktır.

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Cite This Article

Tutu, C. Z., Ziroglu, Z., Duman, T. (2026). Exploring the Knowledge Gaps of Caregivers in Multiple Sclerosis Care. Eskisehir Medical Journal, Volume: 7 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.48176/esmj.2026.237

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