Soroor Kalantari1, Mojgan Karbakhsh2, Zahra Kamiab3, Zahra Kalantari4, Mohammad Ali Sahraian5. 1. Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Clinical Research development Center, Rafsanjan University of medical science, Department of Community Medicine, Rafsanjan, Iran. 4. School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Neurology, Sina MS Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Social Stigma is potentially a major problem in multiple sclerosis patients which strongly affects the quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of perceived stigma in patients with MS in a sample of Iranian population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 305 MS patients who were referred to Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2014. The main variables were perceived stigma, age, sex, marital status, educational level, occupation, duration of the disease, type of symptoms, disability expanded status scale, family history and economic status. Social stigma was measured through a 20-item questionnaire which was developed by authors and the reliability was assessed in a pilot study. RESULTS: The frequency of perceived stigma was significantly associated with occupation, disease duration, and visibility of symptoms, level of disability and the economic condition. There were no significant relationships between perceived stigma and age, sex, marital status, level of education and family history. About 44 percent of patients preferred to hide their disease from others and 52.6 percent believed that this disease would stigmatize them in society. Nearly, half of patients preferred not to mention their disease in job interviews. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the impacts of perceived stigma on various aspects of the patients' lives are necessary to find appropriate strategies to deal with stigma and its consequences. Training programs can improve the patients' skills for coping with stigma. Furthermore, programs aimed to upgrade public knowledge and reduce the negative attitudes toward the disease should be promoted.
OBJECTIVES:Social Stigma is potentially a major problem in multiple sclerosispatients which strongly affects the quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of perceived stigma in patients with MS in a sample of Iranian population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 305 MSpatients who were referred to Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2014. The main variables were perceived stigma, age, sex, marital status, educational level, occupation, duration of the disease, type of symptoms, disability expanded status scale, family history and economic status. Social stigma was measured through a 20-item questionnaire which was developed by authors and the reliability was assessed in a pilot study. RESULTS: The frequency of perceived stigma was significantly associated with occupation, disease duration, and visibility of symptoms, level of disability and the economic condition. There were no significant relationships between perceived stigma and age, sex, marital status, level of education and family history. About 44 percent of patients preferred to hide their disease from others and 52.6 percent believed that this disease would stigmatize them in society. Nearly, half of patients preferred not to mention their disease in job interviews. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the impacts of perceived stigma on various aspects of the patients' lives are necessary to find appropriate strategies to deal with stigma and its consequences. Training programs can improve the patients' skills for coping with stigma. Furthermore, programs aimed to upgrade public knowledge and reduce the negative attitudes toward the disease should be promoted.
Authors: Bruno Kusznir Vitturi; Alborz Rahmani; Guglielmo Dini; Alfredo Montecucco; Nicoletta Debarbieri; Paolo Bandiera; Michela Ponzio; Mario Alberto Battaglia; Benedetta Persechino; Matilde Inglese; Paolo Durando Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-02 Impact factor: 4.614