Adult women with multiple sclerosis (MS) can benefit from innovative mindfulness-based interventions designed and structured with understanding and consideration of the multifaceted challenges these women face on a daily basis. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the experience of participating in an online or traditional onsite 8-week, once a week, Mind Body Stress Reduction combined with Sleep Retraining course among women living with MS to establish online course acceptability. Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis method was used to analyze focus group interview data. Time and length for both courses was found acceptable, camaraderie and interconnectedness were essential, having choice regarding course delivery format was important, and being provided with organized learning materials at the course start in a binder or packet was considered imperative. Acceptability was established for both the online and onsite formats.

We explored the feasibility of a mindfulness plus sleep education intervention, SleepWell!, delivered via videoconference compared to onsite among adults with MS. A non-randomized wait-list control design was used. Participants wore actigraphy watches and kept sleep diaries for seven days pre- and post intervention. Questionnaires were completed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and three months post-intervention. One group was conducted onsite. Three groups participated via videoconference. Attrition among videoconference groups was 23% compared to 57% in the onsite group. Within group analysis showed moderate-to-large effect sizes on sleep efficiency (d=0.78) and total sleep time (d=0.54) in the videoconference groups. One-way repeated measures ANOVA post-hoc analysis suggested small-to-medium effect over three months on sleep quality (ηp2 =0.28), physical health quality of life (ηp2 =0.42), mental health quality of life (ηp2 =0.13), and mindfulness (ηp2 =0.29). Results indicate feasibility of providing our intervention via videoconferencing. Preliminary analysis suggests that SleepWell! improves sleep and mindfulness among adults with MS.

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Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease with typical onset in young to middle adulthood, results in disrupted sleep more commonly than the general population. There are known sex differences in MS onset and clinical course. MS, however, affects approximately three times more women than men, resulting in less attention to the male experience. Thus, there is a lack of information on disrupted sleep among men with MS. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between personal factors, behaviors, and sleep quality among men with MS. Methods Men with MS aged 20 to 90 years participated in an online anonymous survey recruited through the National MS Society website. Pearson’s correlations and linear regression were used to examine relationships between personal factors (age (years), type of MS, years since MS was diagnosed by a physician and race), sleep promoting behaviors (Sleep Behavior Self-Rating Scale), and sleep quality (Sleep Impact Short-Form total score). Results Four hundred ninety-six men with MS (mean age=53 years; SD=12.8; range 22-81 years) completed the survey. The majority were white (n=428; 86%) and married (n=358; 72%), with relapsing-remitting MS (n=323; 65%). Sleep quality ranged widely (mean=43.2; SD=3; range 27.9-59.9) with 90% reporting poor sleep. Pearson correlation results indicated a significant positive association between sleep quality and sleep promoting behaviors (r=.339) and negative associations with age (r=-234) and race (r=-.148). Multiple regression showed that sleep promoting behaviors and age statistically significantly predicted sleep quality (F(5,399) =15.51,p<.001,R2=.152). MS type, years passed since MS diagnoses and race did not add significantly to the prediction. Conclusion These findings suggest that poor sleep quality was strongly associated with sleep promoting behaviors among in older men with MS. Improving sleep promoting behaviors may substantially improve sleep quality. Further qualitative research is required to address the lack of information on understanding factors that disturb sleep among men with MS. Support (if any) This study was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) UB Clinical Scholar Program in Implementation Science to Achieve Triple Aims -NIH K12 Faculty Scholar Program in Implementation Science (NHLBI) Award