An exploratory study of the relationship between alternative therapies, functional status, and symptom severity among people with multiple sclerosis.

Roy's Adaptation Model guided an exploratory study of the association of alternative therapies with functional status and symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Data were collected from 16 volunteers by a telephone-administered interview schedule and a mailed questionnaire. All 16 respondents reported seeking traditional medical treatment and at least 1 alternative therapy (mode = 3, range = 1-9). The correlation between the number of alternative therapies and functional status was -.42; the greater the number of therapies used by the respondents, the lower their functional status. Qualitative data analysis revealed that functional status was enhanced by beneficial effects of specific alternative therapies, pacing oneself, changing the perception of self, and focusing on spiritual aspects of self. Self-reported MS symptoms were less severe following use of alternative therapies (p < .0005). Study of the differential effects of single and combined alternative therapies on functional status and symptom severity for large samples of people with MS is recommended.