About the programme
“Minimise Fatigue, Maximise Life” (MFML) is a self-management programme for fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis.
Developed in New Zealand, the programme results from a collaboration between the MS and Parkinson's Society Canterbury Inc. and the Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), Otago University (Way Ahead 2016).
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder which can have a devastating effect on people's lives. New Zealand (NZ) has a high, and rising, prevalence of MS. It is usually diagnosed in young adulthood, affecting people during their 'productive' years – when working and raising families. Fatigue affects 75-90% of people with MS and can be the most disabling symptom. Fatigue in MS is not remediable with medication.
In NZ, the lack of support for managing fatigue prompted the development of a self-management programme: 'Minimise Fatigue, Maximise Life: Creating balance with Multiple Sclerosis'. This self-management programme empowers individuals with MS to manage their own symptoms of fatigue, while learning together in a group situation over the course of six weeks.
Research has shown promise for the efficacy and acceptability of the programme and highlighted the need for online delivery of the programme to those who cannot attend face-to-face delivery. Future collaborations between CHARR and the MS and Parkinson's Society Canterbury Inc. and a research team in Germany aims to develop and deliver an online fatigue management programme for individuals with MS, but with potential for widening the programme for individuals with other long-term conditions. To this end, we are currently 'mapping' the characteristics fo the fatigue programme (with funding support from the School of Physiotherapy) to identify the specfic factors that influence behaviour change.
Publications
Journal articles
Peters, S., Wilkinson, A., & Mulligan, H. (2018). Views of healthcare professionals on training for and delivery of a fatigue self-management program for persons with multiple sclerosis. Disability & Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2018.147899
Mulligan, H., Wilkinson, A., and Snowdon, J. (2017) A fatigue maangement programme for person with multiple sclerosis: development, theory and practical consideration. Physical Therapy Reviews.
Mulligan H, Wilkinson A, Snowdon J. (2016) Perceived impact of a self-management programme for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: A qualitative study. International Journal of MS Care, 18(1), 27-32.
Mulligan, H., Wilkinson, A., Barclay, A., Whiting, H., Heynike, C., & Snowdon, J. (2016). Evaluation of a fatigue self-management programme for people with multiple sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care, 18(3), 116-121.
Mulligan, H., Miyahara, M., & Nichols-Dunsmuir, A. (2016). Multiple perspectives on accessibility to physical activity for people with long-term impairment. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, Published online 04 April 2016.
Mulligan, H., Wilkinson, A., Lusty, A., Delorme, A., & Bong, S. (2015). Consumers and health professionals' perceptions of Participatory Action Research in developing a health resource. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 43(3), 93-97.
Articles – other
Mulligan, H., Snowdon, J. and Tapper,L. (2016). Consumer involvement in creating a fatigue management programme in New Zealand. Way Ahead, Volume 20, Part 1, pages 9-12 (January 2016)
www.mstrust.org.uk/health-professionals/practice-resources/way-ahead
Presentations
Mulligan, H., Snowdon, J., & Wilkinson, A. (2015). Outcomes from the Canterbury Fatigue Programme for people with multiple sclerosis: A mixed method feasibility study. Physiotherapy, 101(Suppl. 1), (pp. e1056-e1057). doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.1937
Mulligan H, Snowdon J and Tapper L (2014). Consumer involvement in the development of a programme to support behaviour change: The Canterbury Fatigue Project. RIMS (Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis) conference Supporting behaviour change. Brighton UK, 6-7 June.
Mulligan H, Snowdon J and Tapper L (2013). Participatory Action Research to develop a programme for self-management of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. PhysioForward, Centennial Conference, 5-6 April, Dunedin. Abstract pg 52
News and events
News
- MS and Parkinson's Canterbury nominated as a finalist in the Champion Canterbury Business Awards 2017 in the category 'Community impact small'
"Living with MS and Parkinson's" The Press, 18th September, 2017. B6
- New Zealand-Germany Science & Technology Programme Funding
Prof Klaus Pfeifer and Dr Alexander Tallner (Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Freidrich-Alexander University) are visiting Otago as part of a travel grant funded by the New Zealand-Germany Science & Technology Programme (Royal Society of New Zealand). They are hosted by Dr Hilda Mulligan (CHARR, School of Physiotherapy). Hilda also received funding as part of this grant and visited Germany in 2015. The team are working on exploring linkages between the two institutions for a project based around linking internet based fatigue management with exercise in multiple sclerosis.
Funding
Funding and support has been received from:
oMS & Parkinson's Society Canterbury Inc. - To support the development of MFML programme.
oUniversity of Otago Research Grant – To evaluate MFML and to explore the perceived impact of the programme for participants.
oRoyal Society of NZ: New Zealand-Germany Science & Technology Programme. Reciprocal funding received to facilitate travel for co-operation between two research groups - Dr Mulligan (Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, NZ) and Professor Pfeifer (Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany) in 2015 and 2016.
Our people
Research team
Project lead: Dr Hilda Mulligan
Dr Mandy Wilkinson (CHARR, University of Otago)
International collaboration
Professor Pfeifer (Exercise Scientists, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany)
Further information
Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson's Society of Canterbury www.ms-pd.org.nz
Minimise Fatigue, Maximise Life: Creating balance with multiple sclerosis May 2013.
Jessie Snowdon's presentation to launch MFML. Jessie's portion starts at 22:47 Launch video