Listening to the neurological teams for multiple sclerosis: the SMART project

Conceptualization, use, and outcomes associated with compassion in the care of people with multiple sclerosis: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Compassion is widely regarded as an important component of high-quality healthcare. However, its conceptualization, use, and associated outcomes in the care of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have not been synthesized. The aim of this review is to scope the peer reviewed academic literature on the conceptualization, use, and outcomes associated with compassion in the care of PwMS.

METHODS

Studies were eligible for inclusion if reporting primary research data from quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies on the conceptualization, use, and outcomes associated with compassion in the care of PwMS. Relevant studies were identified through searching five electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) in January 2022. We followed the guidance outlined in the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual for evidence synthesis, and also referred to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist (PRISMA-ScR). Simple descriptive methods were used to chart quantitative findings, and a descriptive approach with basic content analysis was employed to describe qualitative findings.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included (participant n = 1722): eight quantitative, six mixed-methods, one exclusively qualitative. Synthesized qualitative data revealed that PwMS conceptualize compassion as involving self-kindness, agency, and acceptance. PwMS report using self-compassion in response to unpleasant sensations and experiences. Quantitative findings suggest that compassion may mediate benefit finding, reduced distress, and improved quality of life (QoL) in PwMS, that those with the condition may become more compassionate through time, and that self-compassion specifically can be increased through training in mindfulness. In this context, greater self-compassion in PwMS correlates with less depression and fatigue, better resilience and QoL. Among studies, self-compassion was the most common outcome measure for PwMS.

CONCLUSIONS

A nascent literature exists on the conceptualization, use, and outcomes associated with compassion in the care of PwMS. Further research is required to better understand what compassion means to PwMS and those caring for them. However, self-compassion can be cultivated among PwMS and may be helpful for managing unpleasant somatic symptoms and in benefit finding. Impact on other health outcomes is less clear. The use of compassion by health care providers in the care of PwMS is unstudied.

PyPlutchik: Visualising and comparing emotion-annotated corpora

The increasing availability of textual corpora and data fetched from social networks is fuelling a huge production of works based on the model proposed by psychologist Robert Plutchik, often referred simply as the "Plutchik Wheel". Related researches range from annotation tasks description to emotions detection tools. Visualisation of such emotions is traditionally carried out using the most popular layouts, as bar plots or tables, which are however sub-optimal. The classic representation of the Plutchik's wheel follows the principles of proximity and opposition between pairs of emotions: spatial proximity in this model is also a semantic proximity, as adjacent emotions elicit a complex emotion (a primary dyad) when triggered together; spatial opposition is a semantic opposition as well, as positive emotions are opposite to negative emotions. The most common layouts fail to preserve both features, not to mention the need of visually allowing comparisons between different corpora in a blink of an eye, that is hard with basic design solutions. We introduce PyPlutchik the Pyplutchik package is available as a Github repository (http://github.com/alfonsosemeraro/pyplutchik) or through the installation commands pip or conda. For any enquiry about usage or installation feel free to contact the corresponding author, a Python module specifically designed for the visualisation of Plutchik's emotions in texts or in corpora. PyPlutchik draws the Plutchik's flower with each emotion petal sized after how much that emotion is detected or annotated in the corpus, also representing three degrees of intensity for each of them. Notably, PyPlutchik allows users to display also primary, secondary, tertiary and opposite dyads in a compact, intuitive way. We substantiate our claim that PyPlutchik outperforms other classic visualisations when displaying Plutchik emotions and we showcase a few examples that display our module's most compelling features.

Job satisfaction among physicians and nurses involved in the management of multiple sclerosis: the role of happiness and meaning at work

OBJECTIVE

Health professionals caring for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are faced with increasingly complex working conditions that can undermine their job satisfaction and the quality of their healthcare services. The aim of this study was to delve into health professionals' job satisfaction by assessing the predictive role of happiness and meaning at work. Specifically, it was hypothesized that job meaning would moderate the relationship between job happiness and satisfaction.

METHODS

The study hypothesis was tested among 108 healthcare professionals (53 physicians and 55 nurses) working in eight MS centers in Italy. Participants were administered the Eudaimonic and Hedonic Happiness Investigation and the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the moderating role of job meaning between job happiness and satisfaction.

RESULTS

A significant interaction effect of job happiness and meaning on job satisfaction was identified for both physicians and nurses. When work was attributed low meaning, participants experiencing high job happiness were more satisfied with their work than those reporting low happiness; by contrast, when work was perceived as highly meaningful, participants' levels of job happiness did not significantly contribute to job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Focusing on the interplay between job happiness and meaning, findings bring forward practical suggestions for the preservation and promotion of job satisfaction among health professionals working with MS patients. Particularly, they suggest the need to strengthen those job-related aspects that may enhance job meaning, thus providing health professionals with significant reasons to persevere in their work in the face of daily challenges.

Improving Healthcare Professional Psychological Well-being in Neurorehabilitation: An Exploratory Study Focusing on Work Stress

BACKGROUND

Work stress (WS) is a set of harmful physical and emotional reactions that occur when the demands coming from work are not adequate to the skills, resources, or needs of the worker. This causes physical, mental, psychological, or social suffering and dysfunction, which can lead to burnout syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate WS in the healthcare professions, evaluating the effectiveness of a professional stress prevention program to promote a reduction in WS.

METHODS

Thirty-three healthcare professionals of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) rehab ward of the IRCCS Neurolesi (Messina, Italy) were enrolled in this study. The professional stress prevention program was based on group support activities, as well as individual support.

RESULTS

At baseline, we found a high burnout risk in physiotherapists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. At the end of the meetings, we found a normalization in WS, with a higher sense of personal realization in all of the health-professions, and a greater use of functional coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

The occupational stress-reducing intervention in healthcare teams can promote a reduction of stress and anxiety, encouraging more functional coping strategies to face work difficulties.

Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis: A Literature Review Exploring Patient Perspectives

PURPOSE

Multiple sclerosis (MS) prognosis is often uncertain. This literature review considers patients' understanding of, and perspectives on, MS progression to better comprehend the unmet needs of people with MS (PwMS), in order to improve treatment adherence and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

Literature searches for peer-reviewed papers concerning patient perspectives on the progression of MS and comparable conditions, published between January 2000 and January 2020, were conducted.

RESULTS

Little qualitative evidence exists that examines PwMS' perspectives on MS progression. The understanding and meaning ascribed to terms such as "disease progression" vary. Some PwMS find disease labels stigmatizing, confusing, and disconnected from reality. The lack of a clear definition of progression and discrepancies between PwMS and healthcare professional (HCP) perspectives may contribute to misunderstanding and poor communication. Patient descriptions of progression and relapses include symptoms in addition to those evaluated by standard severity and disability measures. Compared with HCPs, PwMS are still focused on relapse prevention but place higher priority on QoL and ascribe different relative importance to the causes of poor adherence to treatment plans. PwMS want to discuss progression and likely prognosis. Such communication needs to be personalized and delivered with sensitivity, at an appropriate time. Poor treatment adherence may arise from a lack of understanding and poor communication, particularly around treatment goals. The few studies that directly considered patient perspectives on the progression of comparable conditions supported and extended the perspectives of PwMS. Lack of adequate communication by HCPs was the most common theme.

CONCLUSION

Patient perspectives on disease progression in MS and other chronic progressive conditions are under-investigated and under-reported. The limited evidence available highlights the importance of providing adequate information and effective HCP communication. While further studies are needed, the current evidence base offers information and insights that may help HCPs to enhance patient care, well-being, and treatment adherence.