Within-subject waitlist-control group design trial of eSupport health-coach moderated online support group participation to address mental health needs in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) from historically underrepresented groups (i.e., Black and Latinx patients).
The purpose of this research is to see how well a new online eSupport Health Weekly Group Sessions program addresses the needs and improves the mood of adults with MS. This study is focusing on improving the online eSupport Weekly Group Session program for people with MS while assessing the impact of the program, particularly for Black and Latinx individuals as clinical research has often not included their experience. The entire study is done remotely by computer, tablet, or smartphone with a web camera and with a stable internet connection. Subjects will be enrolled into closed, private, health-coach facilitated online support groups called eSupport Health Weekly Group Sessions. These sessions are hosted on eSupport Health's proprietary Zoom-based secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. Each group is expected to have 10 participants and will meet weekly for 12 weeks. A licensed therapist ("Study Coach") leads the group sessions. The company's Mutual Respect \& Trust (MRT)-based coaching method is utilized.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
52
A formal semi-structured program of psychoeducational support delivered in an online weekly small group format by health coaches (licensed therapists) who specialize in MS.
eSupport Health
New York, New York, United States
Adherence and completion
The primary objective is to establish feasibility, defined as acceptable rates of \<1\> adherence, and \<2\> completion.
Time frame: through study completion, 20-40 weeks
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The primary efficacy outcome is to determine whether participation in 12-weeks of eSupport Health online groups results in decreased anxiety or depression.
Time frame: through study completion, up to 40 weeks
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