Sense of coherence among patients with multiple sclerosis and its relevant factors

Abstract

Aim: Although a strong sense of coherence (SOC) can result in positive outcomes in a patient with multiple sclerosis, studies on this concept and its relevant factors are limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aims of evaluating the SOC and determining its relevant factors among patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: The descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Iran in 2019. Some 200 patients with multiple sclerosis, who referred to the Alborz Multiple Sclerosis Association, were selected through a convenience sampling method. The 29-item SOC scale, which was developed in 1987 by Antonovsky, was used in order to evaluate the SOC. In this scale, the minimum and the maximum scores are 29 and 203, respectively, with a higher score demonstrating a stronger SOC. Results: The mean and the standard deviation of the SOC score was 100.30±7.9. The mean scores in the elements of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness were 41.1, 34.2 and 25.1, respectively. Among the demographic variables, age, duration of disease, stage of disease, history of hospitalisation, number of hospitalisations and economic status were significantly associated with the patients' SOC. Conclusions: In this study, the SOC among the patients studied was low, and the relevant factors determined can be used by clinical experts and researchers in this field in order to evaluate and to strengthen the SOC in this group of patients.