%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I JMIR Publications
%V 26
%N 
%P e60240
%T Perceptions of Illness Control, Coherence, and Self-Efficacy Following a Web-Based Lifestyle Program for Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Analysis of Semistructured Interviews
%A Davenport,Rebekah
%A Bevens,William
%A Neate,Sandra
%A Jelinek,Pia
%A Yu,Maggie
%A Jelinek,George
%A Reece,Jeanette
%+ Department of Psychiatry, IN STEP Children’s Mental Health Research Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, United States, 1 858 534 7792, wbevens@health.ucsd.edu
%K illness perceptions
%K personal control perceptions
%K illness coherence
%K self-efficacy
%K lifestyle modification
%K disease management
%K multiple sclerosis
%K MS
%K qualitative
%K health behavior
%K thematic analysis
%D 2024
%7 29.11.2024
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Evidence suggests that illness perceptions held by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) impact affective distress and physical health outcomes. In a randomized controlled trial, we developed 2 MS Online Courses—the standard care course and the intervention course (IC). The IC was adapted from an evidence-based lifestyle program. Modifying lifestyle risk factors offers an opportunity to impact illness perceptions. Research on illness perceptions in people living with MS has focused predominately on quantitative methods. Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences and health outcomes of randomized controlled trial participants, including individuals’ perceived changes in attitudes toward MS and their health (ie, illness perceptions). Methods: Qualitative responses provided by 38 participants (22 in the IC and 16 in the standard care course) were derived from semistructured interviews 1 month after completing the MS Online Course. The impact of course engagement and lifestyle modification on illness perceptions was explored using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Themes of changes in illness perceptions were most prominent in the IC arm. Qualitative responses from 22 people living with MS informed the development of three themes: “self-efficacy for disease management,” “personal control,” and “illness coherence.” Conclusions: Findings provide novel insights into the formation and modification of illness perceptions. Lifestyle modification may serve as a valuable adjunct to clinician-administered therapies, improving the sense of personal control over MS, illness coherence, and self-efficacy for disease management. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001605886; https://tinyurl.com/2vyve9p9 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.1186/s12883-023-03298-0 
%M 39612211
%R 10.2196/60240
%U https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e60240
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/60240
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39612211