Journal article
The effect of the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours in people with multiple sclerosis
CH Marck, A Hunter, B Heritage, L Gibbs, AG Kermode, DI Walker, YC Learmonth
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2021
Abstract
Background: Crises and disasters disproportionally impact people with chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Australian Black Summer Bushfires on health behaviours in people with MS. Methods: People with MS, carers, healthcare and advocacy professionals were recruited online between May-July 2020 for an online survey and telephone interviews. Results: Survey items relating to health behaviours were completed by 113 people with MS, and 18 people with MS, 4 MS advocates, 5 healthcare professionals, and 2 carers were interviewed. The bushfires affected 34.5% and the pandemic affected 74.3% of survey participant..
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Awarded by University of Melbourne
Funding Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Melbourne Disability Institute and the Centre for Health Equity at The University of Melbourne. CHM was funded by an Early Career Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (ID: 1120014) and a Fellowship from Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (ID 20-216) . We want to thank the orga-nisations for their help recruiting participants, and the participants for their time.