The dietary needs of patients with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study of satisfaction and accessibility

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disease that significantly impacts the quality of life and functional capabilities of young individuals. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with MS is continuously changing due to the emergence of more effective treatments. As the knowledge of people living with chronic diseases is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing the course and activity of the disease, including dietary modifications, it is important to understand the patients’ experiences. Studying the needs of patients and their satisfaction with the recommendations provided will contribute to greater accuracy in counseling and supporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis. Objective — to comprehensively explore the experience of individuals with multiple sclerosis regarding nutrition. Materials and methods. A qualitative, single-center, non-interventional, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate and analyze the level of satisfaction among patients diagnosed with MS regarding the quality and accessibility of dietary advice and the optimal type of diet. The study involved interviewing 10 patients who were undergoing inpatient treatment (n = 7) or outpatient counseling (n = 3) from November 2024 to January 2025 at the demyelinating diseases department of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 4. Results and discussion. The analysis revealed 3 main themes with 3 subthemes: changes in eating habits, barriers related to evidence-based recommendations, and improving the quality of dietary advice. The themes relate to the patients’ own thoughts and context, as well as perspectives regarding the creation of educational materials and improvement of the counseling stage in receiving recommendations. Shared experiences were particularly identified in personalized recommendations. A variety of experiences regarding changes in eating habits after diagnosis were established. Conclusions. The study found that nutrition is an important topic for patients and identified areas for improvement in dietary recommendations. The results indicate the need to develop clear, personalized dietary advice to meet the needs of patients with MS. The findings of this study can be supplemented with quantitative analysis and used for developing strategies for optimal counseling.