Integrating Caregiver Support into Multiple Sclerosis Care

Table 1

Demographics of caregivers () and persons with MS ().

Variable	M ± SD or (%)
Caregiver
Sex, female	21 (84)
Age, years	54.8 ± 13.3
Race
White	10 (40)
Black	14 (56)
Asian/Pacific Islander	1 (4)
Ethnicity, Hispanic/Latino	0
Marital status
Married/living as married	19 (76)
Single, never married	2 (8)
Divorced	2 (8)
Widowed	2 (8)
Education, years	13.5 ± 3.1
Employed, full-time or part-time	11 (44)
Military service	3 (12)
Relationship to person living with MS
Spouse	17 (68)
Parent	3 (12)
Sibling	3 (12)
Child	2 (8)
Point began providing care
Prior to MS diagnosis	6 (24)
As soon as person with MS diagnosed with MS	7 (28)
When person with MS began displaying MS symptoms	9 (36)
When person with MS could no longer care for self	1 (4)
When previous caregiver could no longer care for Person with MS	1 (4)
Other	1 (4)
Made work changes due to caregiving	6 (24)
Person with MS
Sex, male	19 (76)
Age, years	55.9 ± 11.6
Race
White	12 (48)
Black	13 (52)
Ethnicity, Hispanic/Latino	1 (4)
Marital status
Married/living as married	16 (64)
Single, never married	5 (20)
Divorced	4 (16)
Education, years	14.4 ± 2.0
Employed, full-time or part-time	3 (12)
Made work changes since MS diagnosis	17 (68)
MS type
Relapsing Remitting MS	21 (84)
Primary-Progressive MS	2 (8)
Secondary-Progressive MS	2 (8)
EDSS
Mild (0–2.5)	12 (50)
Moderate (3.0–5.5)	4 (17)
Severe (≥6.0)	8 (33)
Modified fatigue impact, total (0–84)	47.4 ± 3.8
Physical (0–36)	22.9 ± 1.7
Cognitive (0–40)	19.8 ± 2.0
Psychosocial (0–8)	4.6 ± 0.5
MS impact, physical (0–100)	49.1 ± 4.5
MS impact, psychological (0–100)	40.9 ± 5.6