Developing Multiple Types of Phase-specific Self-efficacy e-Intervention (TOP-SEE) to Enhance Self-management for People with Multiple Sclerosis

There are 2.5 million people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) worldwide. Since there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, PwMS needs to practice self-management activities, such as physical activities, diets, emotion regulation, on a daily basis. Self-efficacy, the belief about ones’ capabilities to implement behavior needed to reach a goal, is the longitudinal determinant of health and well-beings of PwMS. The overarching goal of our project is to develop a theory-driven patient-centered sociotechnical solutions for PwMS to develop, cultivate, and maintain their self-efficacy for performing different self-management activities. There are two objectives of our proposal. The first objective is to bridge Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and Health Action Process Approach to use computational models (e.g., algorithms) and patient-centered data (e.g., patient-reported outcomes [PROs], information search behavior) to develop an innovative multiple types of phase-specific self-efficacy eIntervention (TOP-SEE). The second objective is to use quasi-experimental nonequivalent groups design to employ a longitudinal mixed-methods field testing to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of TOP-SEE. The project will have impacts on building a generalizable approach to promote self-efficacy.

Funded through the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) of the Administration for Community Living.