The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Fatigue is taken into account as one of the most important factors affecting quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Such patients can certainly control levels of fatigue, increase their abilities to perform daily activities, and show adaptive behaviors if they are aware of non-pharmacological approaches to reduce fatigue. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of motivational interviewing on fatigue among patients affected by multiple sclerosis in the city of Ilam, Iran. Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, a total number of 60 patients with multiple sclerosis referring to Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Teaching Hospital in the city of Ham were randomlyallocated to two experimental (intervention) (32 patients) and control (28 patients) groups. To collect the data, the fatigue impact scale (FIS) was used. The experimental (intervention) group also received motivational interviewing based on Miller and Rollnick's Model. To this end, the given patients were divided to seven groups of five individuals and the motivational interviews were conducted lasting between 45 to 60 minutes during five sessions and on a weekly basis for each group. The questionnaires were also completed prior to the intervention and fourweeks after the final training session by patients in the experimental (intervention) and control groups. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistics were employed and significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The findings of this study showed that there was no difference between fatigue before and after the intervention in the experimental (66.32 (10.87)) and control (63.28 (8.29)) groups. However, after the intervention, the fatigue of the experimental (41.75 (14.35)) patients was reduced compared to that of control (62.13 (7.69)) and pre-intervention patients. Conclusions: The findings of the present study showed that implementation of motivational interviewing could alleviate fatigue among patients with multiple sclerosis; therefore, nurses were recommended to give daily care to these patients using this type of interview and to provide the basis for promoting health status of such patients.