Intolerance of Uncertainty, Symptom Severity, and Disease Self-management in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may experience uncertainty regarding the etiology, symptoms, treatment, and course of the disease. In these patients, intolerance of uncertainty may also make disease management difficult. METHODS: This study used a descriptive and correlational design to explore the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty, symptom severity, and disease self-management in MS patients. A total of 105 MS patients followed in the neurology clinic were included in the study. RESULTS: A positive moderate correlation was found between the participants' mean scores on the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and the mean scores on the Monitoring My Multiple Sclerosis Scale ( r =0.429; P <0.01), while a negative moderate correlation was found between the participants' mean scores on the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and the mean scores on the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale ( r =-0.558; P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Intolerance of uncertainty explained 18% of the total variance in symptom severity and 30% of the total variance in self-management of PwMS patients ( P <0.01). Intolerance of uncertainty increased symptom severity and decreased self-management level in PwMS and was an important predictor of both symptom severity and self-management. Nurses should address intolerance of uncertainty and take initiatives to reduce uncertainty in the care and treatment process of PwMS.