Outcome moderators of a fatigue management program for people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We determined whether age, gender, work status, or impairment moderated fatigue management program outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD: We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from a randomized controlled trial using mixed-effects models (N = 181) and examined outcomes of fatigue impact, mental health, physical health, and self-efficacy. Measures were collected before and immediately after intervention and at 6 wk, 3 mo, and 6 mo postintervention. RESULTS: Younger participants experienced greater reductions in fatigue impact and greater improvements in self-efficacy over time than did older participants, but we found no age differences in physical or mental health. Participants with less impairment experienced greater mental health gains and were more likely to retain these gains over time than were participants with greater impairment. Although women experienced greater fatigue impact benefits, men experienced greater mental health benefits. Work status did not moderate outcomes. CONCLUSION: Fatigue management program outcomes for people with MS are moderated by age, gender, and impairment.