Empowering Movement: Impact of Mobile App-Based Education on Physical Activity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, incurable neurological disorder that can reduce quality of life and lead to disability and death. The increasing use of mobile app-based education has attracted attention from healthcare professionals. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of mobile app-based education on physical activity (PA) among people with MS. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a control group included 120 patients with MS (61 in the intervention group and 59 in the control group) who attended the neurology clinic at Firuzgar Medical Education Center in 2022. Participants were assigned to the intervention or control group. Educational software was installed on the participants' phones, and they received 15 - 20 minutes of face-to-face instruction on its installation and use. A link to the demographic questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was provided. One month later, the link was resent to collect postintervention data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent- and paired-samples t tests, the chi-square test, and Fisher exact test. Results: The mean age was 34.9 ± 8.55 years in the intervention group and 37.02 ± 7.62 years in the control group. Most participants in both groups were women. The increase in PA in the intervention group, compared with that in the control group, was statistically and clinically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: A nurse-led, mobile app-based educational program was associated with higher PA scores than routine care. This educational approach may help healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, improve the quality and efficiency of clinical care.