Accessing satisfaction with dietary recommendations among patients with multiple sclerosis in Ukraine: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background. Nutrition knowledge is a potential tool for improving disease management in multiple sclerosis (MS). Understanding how patients perceive and utilize dietary advice is crucial for optimizing support strategies to improve MS disease course management. Aim. To evaluate patient satisfaction with dietary advice, explore dietary awareness and the need for tailored educational materials. Materials and methods. A total of 52 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) participated in this single-center survey-based cross-sectional study. Data were collected through structured online questionnaires from MS patients receiving treatment at Kyiv City Clinical Hospital №4 in Ukraine between November 2024 to January 2025, and descriptive statis tics were calculated. Results. A total of 59 patients were invited to participate in the survey, with 7 declining to participate. The median age was 36 (IQR: 29-42). The group included 38 (65,4%) inpatient and 14 (34,6%) outpatient participants, with 65,4% being female. Patients were categorized as having relapsing-remitting (86.5%), primary progressive (9.6%), secondary progressive (3.9%) forms of MS. A majority (70.6%) considered nutrition recommendations important, while 49% initiated the primary dialogue about nutrition with physicians, and 67.4% sought information online. Satisfaction with online resources averaged 3.7/5 (n=30), compared to 3.6/5 (n=23) for information provided by physicians. Conclusion. This study indicates moderate satisfaction with dietary information from online and physicians-provided sources, underscoring a necessity for improvement. Patients with MS value nutrition in disease management and express interest in receiving evidence-based guidance, highlighting the need for better educational materials.