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Trial details imported from ClinicalTrials.gov

For full trial details, please see the original record at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05374473




Registration number
NCT05374473
Ethics application status
Date submitted
25/04/2022
Date registered
16/05/2022
Date last updated
12/12/2023

Titles & IDs
Public title
An Online Lifestyle Modification Course for People With Multiple Sclerosis
Scientific title
An Online Lifestyle Modification Course for People With MS: a Randomised Controlled Trial of Course Effectiveness
Secondary ID [1] 0 0
23458
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Multiple Sclerosis 0 0
Condition category
Condition code

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
Behaviour - Lifestyle modification
Behaviour - Standard-care

Experimental: Intervention - Intervention-tailored program with information regarding modifiable lifestyle related risk factors implicated in disease progression.

Other: Standard-care - containing general health information sourced from standard MS websites.


Behaviour: Lifestyle modification
Content in the intervention arm was adapted from an evidence-based lifestyle modification program for people with MS outlined in print previously presented in a face-to-face format. The integrated lifestyle modification program translates the research evidence regarding modification of lifestyle related risk factors and health outcomes based on a detailed review of the literature around modifiable lifestyle risk factors that may influence MS disease progression, as outlined in the book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: the 7-step recovery program.

Behaviour: Standard-care
Content in standard-care arm was adapted from MS-related websites
Intervention code [1] 0 0
Behaviour
Comparator / control treatment
Control group

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 0 0
Change in physical health-related quality of life from baseline to 6- 12- and 30-month follow-up
Timepoint [1] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)
Primary outcome [2] 0 0
Change in mental health-related quality of life from baseline to 6- 12- and 30-month follow-up
Timepoint [2] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)
Secondary outcome [1] 0 0
Change in depression
Timepoint [1] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)
Secondary outcome [2] 0 0
Change in anxiety
Timepoint [2] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)
Secondary outcome [3] 0 0
Change in fatigue
Timepoint [3] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)
Secondary outcome [4] 0 0
Change in disability
Timepoint [4] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)
Secondary outcome [5] 0 0
Change in self-efficacy
Timepoint [5] 0 0
Pre-intervention (Baseline) to post-intervention (6-, 12- and 30-month follow-up)

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
1. Be able to read, write, and speak English;

2. Be 18 years old or over;

3. Have a confirmed diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS by a neurologist;

4. Be able to access the internet and be able to view sessions.
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
No
Key exclusion criteria
1. Experiencing any serious co-morbid chronic illness or neurological illness/injury
other than MS that would threaten regular participation or significantly affect the
outcome measures in its own right, such as motor neurone disease or stroke, as
determined by the study investigators;

2. Currently participating in another study or self-management program involving
modification of lifestyle.

Study design
Purpose of the study
Supportive Care
Allocation to intervention
Randomised controlled trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Masking / blinding
Blinded (masking used)
Who is / are masked / blinded?
The people receiving the treatment/s


Intervention assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Statistical methods / analysis

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Active, not recruiting
Data analysis
Reason for early stopping/withdrawal
Other reasons
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
24/06/2022
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
1/12/2024
Actual
Sample size
Target
Accrual to date
Final
945
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
VIC
Recruitment hospital [1] 0 0
The University of Melbourne - Melbourne
Recruitment postcode(s) [1] 0 0
3010 - Melbourne

Funding & Sponsors
Primary sponsor type
Other
Name
University of Melbourne
Address
Country

Ethics approval
Ethics application status

Summary
Brief summary
Lifestyle factors are known to affect the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies of
participants with MS attending an evidence-based lifestyle modification program, delivered
via face-to-face workshops, have demonstrated improved mental and physical health, reduced
relapse rate and improved quality of life over 3 years follow up, and that behaviour change
was feasible and sustainable. However, the face-to-face modality of this educational
intervention is resource intensive, and accessibility may be impeded by geography, cost, and
MS-specific factors such as illness, fatigue, and disability. Furthermore, the COVID-19
pandemic has highlighted the unpredictable ability to travel and the importance of
flexibility of health-related education.

The Neuroepidemiology Unit at the University of Melbourne has developed the Multiple
Sclerosis Online Course (MSOC) to deliver a widely accessible and user-friendly educational
tool for people with MS. The course aims to deliver the best available evidence regarding
lifestyle-related risk factors in the development and progression of MS and behaviour
modification to improve health outcomes.

Two forms of the course were developed:

1. an intervention course delivering evidence-based information regarding modifiable
lifestyle related risk factors implicated in disease progression; and

2. a standard-care course, similar in format and presentation, but containing general
information sourced from standard MS websites. Both courses have seven modules delivered
over six weeks.

A feasibility study involving the delivery of the intervention and standard-care course was
conducted from April to June 2021. The study assessed the primary outcomes of attrition in
both intervention and standard-care arm. Secondary outcomes assessed assessed learnability,
accessibility, and desirability via a Likert scale follow-up survey. A qualitative analysis
examining motivation, expectations and outcomes was also conducted. Tertiary outcomes
assessed the completion of the baseline surveys, a requirement to enter the course. Based on
the feasibility study, the investigators have modified recruitment strategies, functionality,
and the community forum aspects of the course. Investigators now aim to test the
effectiveness of the intervention arm of the course versus the standard-care arm in a larger
randomised controlled trial.

Objective:

To prospectively examine whether an MS Online intervention course (intervention arm) can
deliver an evidence-based educational intervention that results in behaviour change which can
be sustained and translated into improved health outcomes for people with MS, and whether
these effects are superior to the MS Online standard-care course (control arm).

Participants who are 18 or older, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by a doctor are welcome
to join our study.

The online course will run for 6 weeks. During this time, there are no formal assessments or
minimum time investment required, which means participants are free to navigate the course as
they see fit.

Prior to commencing the study, participants will be asked fill-out a survey about their
health (e.g., fatigue) and lifestyle (e.g., diet) and will be asked to fill this out again
during the study.
Trial website
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05374473
Trial related presentations / publications
Jelinek, G. (2016). Overcoming multiple sclerosis: the evidence-based 7 step recovery program. Atlantic Books.
Marck CH, De Livera AM, Brown CR, Neate SL, Taylor KL, Weiland TJ, Hadgkiss EJ, Jelinek GA. Health outcomes and adherence to a healthy lifestyle after a multimodal intervention in people with multiple sclerosis: Three year follow-up. PLoS One. 2018 May 23;13(5):e0197759. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197759. eCollection 2018.
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 0 0
Sandra L Neate, Doctor
Address 0 0
University of Melbourne
Country 0 0
Phone 0 0
Fax 0 0
Email 0 0
Contact person for public queries
Name 0 0
Address 0 0
Country 0 0
Phone 0 0
Fax 0 0
Email 0 0
Contact person for scientific queries