Rehabilitation programs, reimbursed by insurance, have traditionally been designed for victims of accidents and sudden injuries, including spinal cord injuries, head injuries or strokes. There has been little research into ways such programs could help people coping with diseases that disable over a period of years. Most are diagnosed during a brief outpatient appointment, with little opportunity to discuss ways they can promote their own health and well being, and remain as active as possible as the disease progresses. Stuifbergen, recently recognized by the American Academy of Nursing for outstanding contributions to her profession, has spent two decades studying people in the process of coping with chronic, disabling illness. Actress Annette Funicello and comedian Richard Pryor both have the disease.
Symptoms range from paralysis to mild numbness, tingling and fatigue.
For many people, symptoms of the disease are not visible. More than two-thirds of those diagnosed with MS are still able to walk after 20 years with the disease. The program will also feature three months of follow-up support by telephone. Co-investigators are Dr. Heather Becker, a research scientist with the School of Nursing, and Dr. Gayle Timmerman, an assistant professor. About 150 women in Austin, Houston and San Antonio are participating.