A systematic review of the impact of therapeutic education programs on the quality of life of people with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Faced with a deemed mediocre quality of life (QoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), the effectiveness of therapeutic education (TPE) programs is called into question. This systematic review is conducted to examine the impact of the TPE programs on the QoL of pwMS. Methods: A search was performed in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) to identify relevant studies published between 2007 and 2022. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Two reviewers independently extracted data on the study and program characteristics. These data were presented in tables for detailed synthesis and descriptive analyses. The selected studies underwent assessment using recommended evaluation tools. Results: Of the 21 studies included in the review, 13 found a significant improvement in QoL, which was maintained during follow-up testing in 42% of the studies. TPE programs that focused on patients’ individual needs and aimed to develop their skills in a personalized manner appeared to promote QoL. Interaction formats (individual, group, remote), session duration [range=1.5-28] and number of sessions [range=1-18] varied between the studies reviewed. Conclusion: Thoughtful, structured design of educational programs requires a match between the educational aspects specific to each individual and the appropriate choice of content, delivery modalities of the interventions and evaluation protocol, as well as a reasonable follow-up time. The conclusions drawn could serve as guidelines to direct future research towards optimal educational interventions. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022338651.