Social Support Needs of Iranian Family Caregivers of Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Qualitative Study

Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic progressive neurological diseases and is regarded as the non-traumatic cause of neurological disability in youth. The Multiple sclerosis patients need for family caregiver increasingly grows due to the progressive course of the disease, which worsens the symptoms over time. Family caregivers of this group of patients are subject to various challenges and needs in the area of patient care. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explain the social supportive needs of family caregivers of Multiple sclerosis patients. Methods and materials: This qualitative study was conducted in MS Society of Isfahan, Iran, through a conventional content analysis approach in 2019-2020. The participants were selected using a purposeful sampling method. The data was gathered using semi-structured interviews about care-related social supportive needs of Multiple sclerosis patient. After obtaining informed consent, interviews were conducted with 8 patients, 13 family caregivers, and 4 medical staff for approximately 30 to 60 minutes at the place agreed upon by the participants. All interviews were recorded using a recorder. After the interviews were reviewed several times, they were simultaneously transcripted, coded, and analyzed. Finally, Graneheim and Lundman (2004) conventional content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Results: Findings of this study with regard to social supportive needs of  family caregivers of multiple sclerosis patients were classified into 4 main categories, including "providing interaction opportunities to reduce isolation", "empathetic interaction with peers and treatment team members", "financial aids and attracting support from charities", and "family support", and 14 subcategories. conclusion: Findings of this study showed that among fundamental needs of these caregivers to be considered by health providers are providing interaction opportunities to reduce isolation, empathetic interaction with peers and treatment team members, financial aids and attracting support from charities, and support from family. Findings also showed that most of the family caregivers of multiple sclerosis patients do not receive adequate social and systemic support from health care providers and do not have access to support resources. In addition to providing access to proper support and social and systemic resources, the policy makers, health care providers, and nurses can, according to the findings of the present study, provide the required support programs to prepare these caregivers to play a more desirable role in caring for their patients, especially at home environment.