Mult Scler Relat Disord. 3 Mar 2022;60:103717. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103717. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the impact of online health education on knowledge related to multiple sclerosis (MS) and other health outcomes in the MS community.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of participation in a massive open online course (MOOC) on MS on MS-related knowledge, health literacy (HL), self-efficacy, resilience, quality life and severity of MS symptoms.

METHODS: In this cohort study, using a single-group pretest/posttest design (n=560), we examined the effects of MOOC participation on MS-related knowledge and other outcomes at using a paired t test. We used regression and structural equation modeling to examine the association between participant characteristics, changes in other outcomes, and changes in MS-related knowledge.

RESULTS: We found significant increases in MS-related knowledge for people with MS (PwMS) (+2.13 points, p

CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase in MS-related knowledge, which was unrelated to changes in other study outcomes, both for PwMS and for those not living with MS. Outcome-specific health education interventions may be needed to bring about changes in other health outcomes.

PMID:35259682 | DO I:10.1016/j.msard.2022.103717