Effectiveness of a Family-Oriented Psychological Intervention Program on Improving Spiritual Vitality in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Researches about the development and effectiveness of the family-centered psychological intervention program on the importance of promoting spiritual vitality in patients with multiple sclerosis are limited. Therefore, the aim of the current research, in addition to developing a program, was to determine the effectiveness of family-oriented psychological intervention on the improvement of spiritual vitality in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The research design included two qualitative and quantitative parts. In the qualitative part, a family-centered intervention program was developed and in the quantitative part of this research, it was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design with a three-month follow-up along with a control group. In the qualitative part, the statistical population included psychology professors, multiple sclerosis patients and psychologists living in Tehran who had experience working with multiple sclerosis patients. The sample included 4 psychology professors, 4 psychologists who had experience working with multiple sclerosis patients, and 4 patients with multiple sclerosis who were selected in a targeted manner. In the quantitative part, the statistical population of the study includes all patients with multiple sclerosis living in Tehran who were members of the MS Association and in the spring of 2023, they referred to the MS Association. In order to form two groups using the purposeful sampling method, First, 32 people were selected and then they were randomly grouped into two experimental and control groups. Questionnaires and surveys were used to collect qualitative data. also, Afrooz spiritual vitality questionnaire (2015) was used to collect data in the quantitative part. The research data were analyzed in the qualitative part by the Laushe method and the data in the quantitative part by using mixed variance analysis tests with repeated measurements in SPSS software version 22.

The results of the validation of the developed program showed that the family-oriented psychological program has high validity (r=0.84). Other results showed that between spiritual vitality (F = 5.730, P = 0.023) and its components including feelings and behavior (F = 5.395, P = 0.027) and beliefs (5.754). F, P=0.023) there is a significant difference in the experimental and control groups, and this difference is the result of the implementation of the family-oriented psychological program intervention in the experimental group.

According to the results of this research, the developed family-centered intervention program is an effective method in improving spiritual vitality in patients with multiple sclerosis, therefore, multiple sclerosis therapists and centers are advised to use family-oriented psychological intervention programs to improve the psychological status of these patients.

Researches about the development and effectiveness of the family-centered psychological intervention program on the importance of promoting spiritual vitality in patients with multiple sclerosis are limited. Therefore, the aim of the current research, in addition to developing a program, was to determine the effectiveness of family-oriented psychological intervention on the improvement of spiritual vitality in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The research design included two qualitative and quantitative parts. In the qualitative part, a family-centered intervention program was developed and in the quantitative part of this research, it was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design with a three-month follow-up along with a control group. In the qualitative part, the statistical population included psychology professors, multiple sclerosis patients and psychologists living in Tehran who had experience working with multiple sclerosis patients. The sample included 4 psychology professors, 4 psychologists who had experience working with multiple sclerosis patients, and 4 patients with multiple sclerosis who were selected in a targeted manner. In the quantitative part, the statistical population of the study includes all patients with multiple sclerosis living in Tehran who were members of the MS Association and in the spring of 2023, they referred to the MS Association. In order to form two groups using the purposeful sampling method, First, 32 people were selected and then they were randomly grouped into two experimental and control groups. Questionnaires and surveys were used to collect qualitative data. also, Afrooz spiritual vitality questionnaire (2015) was used to collect data in the quantitative part. The research data were analyzed in the qualitative part by the Laushe method and the data in the quantitative part by using mixed variance analysis tests with repeated measurements in SPSS software version 22.

The results of the validation of the developed program showed that the family-oriented psychological program has high validity (r=0.84). Other results showed that between spiritual vitality (F = 5.730, P = 0.023) and its components including feelings and behavior (F = 5.395, P = 0.027) and beliefs (5.754). F, P=0.023) there is a significant difference in the experimental and control groups, and this difference is the result of the implementation of the family-oriented psychological program intervention in the experimental group.

According to the results of this research, the developed family-centered intervention program is an effective method in improving spiritual vitality in patients with multiple sclerosis, therefore, multiple sclerosis therapists and centers are advised to use family-oriented psychological intervention programs to improve the psychological status of these patients.