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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03550170

Fatigue Management Programs for People With MS

This is a multi-site randomized clinical trial comparing 3 modes of delivering the Managing Fatigue course for reducing fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The primary hypothesis is that the teleconference and internet versions of the course will be noninferior to the one-on-one, in person version in terms of the primary outcome of fatigue and secondary outcome of quality of life.

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Key information

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Fatigue Immune System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States

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About this study

Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS fatigue can impact all aspects of quality of life, including physical, mental, and social function. MS fatigue is a profound barrier to participating in meaningful activities, such as employment and hobbies. Currently, the FDA has not approved medications for MS fatigue in the United States (US). However, there are empirically tested, non-pharmacological strategies that can support people with MS in reducing the impact of fatigue. Thus, the aim of the study is to compare 3 modes of delivering the Managing Fatigue course-2 telerehabilitation formats (teleconference and internet) and 1-to-1, in-person format (traditional mode of clinical service delivery)-upon outcomes important to people with MS, i.e., fatigue and its impact on physical, mental, and social function. The intervention arms will focus on reducing fatigue as a strategy to directly improve physical, mental and social functioning.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Self-report diagnosis of MS
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Fatigue Severity Scale score ≥ 4
  • Ability to speak English

Exclusion criteria

  • Individual must be capable of providing consent (Assessed with questionnaire)
  • Unable to access the internet or unable to travel to in-person sessions

Treatment and study plan

Teleconference

Behavioral

This intervention arm will be a 6-week, group-based course involving weekly 80-min teleconference sessions. It will be delivered in small groups (6-12 participants) to maximize participants' opportunities for interaction. A program manual divided into 6 sections, 1 for each week that includes worksheets and homework activities will be given to the participants. Occupational therapists will facilitate the sessions. Participants and the OT will dial into 1-800 conference call line on the designated date and time.

Internet

Behavioral

The internet course is similar to the teleconference format. It will occur in a 6-week period and be group based; i.e., 8-12 participants will begin the intervention at the same time and interact with each other during the 6-week period. Participants will be given a username and a password to view a different session each week at a time convenient for them. Each session will include completing practice activities and sharing information (e.g., offering advice and support to one another through the discussion forum). OTs will facilitate the discussions by responding to entries, asking questions, and providing encouragement to complete sessions.

1-to-1, in-person or videoconference

Behavioral

Unlike the teleconference and internet courses, the number and length of sessions for the 1-to-1, in-person or videoconference course will vary over the 6-week period. The OT will cover all 6 topics, but the pace will be tailored to the participants' needs and preferences. Thus, although the topics are consistent, OTs are able to spend more time on topics that participants find pertinent to their situations. The participant and OT will be instructed to meet at least 3 times with at least 7 days between each session.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Fatigue Levels

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Fatigue will be assessed with Fatigue Impact Scale. Fatigue Impact Scale is a 40-item questionnaire that measures impact of fatigue on day-to-day life. Scale ranges from "no problem" (0) to "extreme problem" (4). Total scores will be computed by summing responses for each item. Scores can range from 0 to 160 with a higher score indicating worse fatigue.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Health-related Quality of Life: Psychological Composite

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS) was used to measure health-related quality of life. It consists of 29 self-report questions. The psychological composite score is calculated on a scale between 1 and 100. Higher scores indicate worse health-related quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Case Western Reserve University

Other

Collaborators

  • Dalhousie University
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
  • Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario
  • The Cleveland Clinic
  • University of Illinois at Chicago
  • University of Minnesota

Registry information

Official study title

Comparing the Effectiveness of Fatigue Management Programs for People With MS

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jun 8, 2018
Registry last updated
Feb 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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