Self‐reported behaviour change among multiple sclerosis community members and interested laypeople following participation in a free online course about multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Issue addressed Evaluated the impact of Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) massive open online course, which was intended to increase understanding and awareness about MS, on self‐reported health behaviour change. Methods Observational cohort study evaluating pre‐ (baseline) and post‐course (8‐10‐week follow‐up) survey data. The main study outcomes were self‐reported health behaviour change, change type and measurable improvement. We also collected participant characteristic data (eg, age, physical activity). We compared participants who reported health behaviour change at follow‐up to those who did not and compared those who improved with those who did not using chi square and t tests. Participant characteristics, change types and change improvement were described descriptively. Results A total of N = 560 course completers were included in this study. The study cohort included MS community members (eg, people with MS, health care providers) and nonmembers. Two hundred and forty‐seven (44.1%) reported behaviour change in ≥1 area at follow‐up, 160 (64.8%) reported a measurable change and, of these, 109 (68.1%) showed improvement. Participants who reported a change and those who improved had significantly lower precourse health behaviours and characteristics (eg, quality of life, diet quality). The most reported change types were knowledge, exercise/physical activity, diet and care practice. Conclusion Understanding MS encourages health behaviour change among course completers, primarily through the provision of information and goal‐setting activities and discussions. So what? An online education intervention can effectively encourage health behaviour change over an 8‐10‐week follow‐up period. Information provision, including both scientific evidence and lived experience, and goal‐setting activities and discussions are the primary mechanisms underpinning that change.

Self‐reported behaviour change among multiple sclerosis community members and interested laypeople 6 months following participation in a free online course about multiple sclerosis

“…This agrees with our findings from the postcourse survey. 21 Further, we found some strikingly similar results with respect to the percentage of participants who improved in a given change type. Among those who reported a change in exercise or physical activity, 51.6% improved on the postcourse survey and 57.5% improved on the follow-up survey.…”

“…A similar percentage of the study cohort reported making a change on the postcourse survey as did on the follow-up survey (44%-45% 21 ).…”

“…A similar percentage of the study cohort reported making a change on the postcourse survey as did on the follow‐up survey (44%‐45% 21 ). Further, the most commonly reported change types were the same between the two surveys 21 .…”

“…A similar percentage of the study cohort reported making a change on the postcourse survey as did on the follow‐up survey (44%‐45% 21 ). Further, the most commonly reported change types were the same between the two surveys 21 . This suggests that the course had a consistent effect on participants and that its impact is sustainable up to 6 months following completion.…”

“…Further, the most commonly reported change types were the same between the two surveys. 21 This suggests that the course had a consistent effect on participants and that its impact is sustainable up to 6 months following completion. These are several theoretical explanations for this result.…”