CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Honored for the poster presentation, “A Needs Assessment Survey of MS Patients and Care Partners,” the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) received the Berlex Award for the Best Poster in Patient and Family Education in Multiple Sclerosis, at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 1st - 3rd. As the winner of the Berlex Award, MSAA will receive free meeting registration to attend next year’s CMSC Annual Meeting.
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The poster presentation was a review of a needs assessment survey administered by MSAA, which was distributed to 2,085 MS patients and care partners. The survey was developed to gather information to better understand the needs of the MS community and how MSAA can help to meet those needs. Overall, the research found that medical information, rehabilitation, and therapeutic services as well as attaining life skills are important and unmet needs for MS patients.
MSAA’s President and CEO Doug Franklin sees the Berlex Award as a notable achievement for MSAA. “It is a distinct honor to be recognized by the CMSC, an organization comprised of our nation’s MS experts in the fields of medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, and research,” states Franklin. “The results of this survey will help set the strategic direction of MSAA. It will also provide valuable insights to other groups and individuals who are addressing the diverse issues presented by MS.”
CMSC Executive Director, June Halper, MSCN, ANP, FAAN believes the needs assessment survey is an asset to the MS community and is a great example of what the Berlex Award signifies. “The significance of the Berlex Award is to recognize an achievement/activity that improves patient and family education,” says Halper. “MSAA’s survey is an important assessment of the educational and service needs of the MS community and should yield programs and services that reflect the needs of the community.”
Robert Rapp, MSAA’s vice president for program and evaluation, feels the needs assessment is an important tool for identifying what the MS community truly needs and how MSAA can help meet those needs. “It is so important to directly ask those we serve what programs are most important to them. Our assessment both supported the value of our current services and provided us with new information,” says Rapp. “As an example, upwards of 80% of those surveyed had access to a computer. This was much higher than we would have anticipated and will speed our development of more technology based models of service delivery.”
The survey was designed to examine three primary areas including the informational and educational needs of the MS community during the past year in 16 different areas; programs and services that are currently offered by MSAA; and finally the types of programs the MS community would like to have offered to them.
The results of the first section found information on new medicine, treatment, and research were the greatest perceived needs. Some of the other areas that were ranked highly in the survey were information about exercise, fatigue management, better problem solving and coping, and complementary and alterative medicine.
In the second set of questions, clients were asked to choose from a list of 13 programs and services available to them and rank their top three. Publications and brochures were rated first; second, were educational awareness events; and third, were programs, which combine social activities with therapeutic benefits, such as water exercise and Tai Chi.
The final set of questions asked participants to choose potential programs. This series of questions allowed MSAA to conclude that rehabilitation services are needed most as well as services that provide skills, encouragement, and support to help manage one’s life.
MSAA’s poster was authored by Robert Rapp, M.A.P.A., MSAA’s vice president for programs & evaluation; Jack Burks, M.D., MSAA’s vice president and chief medical officer; Gary Cutter, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics, head, section on research methods and clinical trials, department of biostatistics, UAB School of Public Health; and Amanda Montague, Ed.M., MSAA western regional director.
The Berlex Awards are presented each year for the best poster and best platform presentation depicting excellence in patient education. A panel of CMSC members representing various disciplines caring for individuals with multiple sclerosis judges the awards. There are two patient education goals that the poster and platform presentations must meet to receive the award. First, the presentations must provide factual information to people with MS, their families and significant others about the disease, treatments and other MS related issues. Second, the presentations must increase the level of knowledge and promote positive health outcomes and behaviors.
To view MSAA’s poster presentation please visit http://www.msaa.com/PDFs/MSAA%20CMSC%20poster%202006.pdf.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is a national nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for people affected by multiple sclerosis. MSAA offers programs and services including a toll-free Helpline (1-800-532-7667); support groups; equipment ranging from grab bars to wheelchairs; home modifications; MRI funding and insurance advocacy; educational literature including a quarterly magazine, The Motivator; lending library; cooling program for heat-sensitive individuals; educational programs; and more.
The most common neurological disorder diagnosed in young adults, multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. This disorder damages or destroys the protective covering (known as myelin) surrounding the nerves, causing reduced communication between the brain and nerve pathways. Common symptoms include visual problems, overwhelming fatigue, difficulty with balance and coordination, and various levels of impaired mobility. MS is not contagious or fatal.
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CONTACT: Amanda Bednar, Public Relations Manager of Multiple SclerosisAssociation of America, +1-800-532-7667, ext. 122, abednar@msaa.com
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