Effectiveness of Educational Program on Fatigue and Activities of Daily Living among Myasthenia Gravis Patients

Abstract

Background: Myasthenia gravis is the most prevalent medical disorder related to dysfunction of neuromuscular transmission. It mainly causes fluctuating muscle weakness, fatigability and decreasing activities of daily living. Aim of study: Was to evaluate the effect of education program on fatigue and activities of daily living among myasthenia gravis patients. Study design: A quasi-experimental design was used in the study. Setting: This study was conducted at neurological departments of Benha University Hospitals and Mansoura University. Sample: A purposive sampling was used in the current study and the sample size included (60 patients) with myasthenia gravis. Tool of data collection: (I) Patients' interviewing questionnaire, covering patients' demographic characteristics, medical and surgical history, their knowledge about myasthenia gravis. (II) Myasthenia gravis fatigue scale. (III) Activities of Daily Living, (IV) Myasthenia gravis Manual Muscle Test. Results: There was significantly improvement in patients' knowledge about disease, fatigue score, activities of daily living and manual muscle test post and at follow up compared to pre program where p<0.001. Conclusion: The educational program provided for studied myasthenia gravis patient has significantly increased their knowledge about disease and improved fatigue score, activities of daily living and muscle strength. Recommendation: Replication of this study is recommended on several clinical settings for generalizability of the research results to other hospitals.