Making it Personal: Identifying personalised triggers of fatigue in multiple sclerosis using N-of-1 studies
Expression of Interest
This webpage provides an overview of the study. If you are interested in taking part in this study after reading the following information, you should register your interest by completing an Expression of Interest form (see blue button at the end of this page). If you complete a form, a member of the research team will send you a participant information sheet with full details about the study before you decide whether or not to take part.
What is the purpose of the study?
This study aims to explore how fatigue symptoms fluctuate over time in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Most of the existing research on MS has measured fatigue on very few occasions, which limits our understanding about how fatigue fluctuates over time and which factors may trigger or exacerbate fatigue. It is possible that factors such as physical activity, cognitive demand, mood, and sleep quantity and/or quality influence fatigue severity (e.g., poor sleep quality may have a substantial impact on fatigue severity the next day). The factors that trigger or exacerbate fatigue may be different for different people and this study aims to explore this. The results from the study will help us to identify patterns and predictors of fatigue. This information can help inform the design and evaluation of treatments or services that can help individuals to manage the frequency and/or severity of MS symptoms such as fatigue.
Who can take part in the study?
You may be eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:
- You are aged 18 or older
- You live in Greater Brisbane
- You have access to the internet to complete an online questionnaire
- You are willing to complete brief questionnaires via an electronic diary each day for 6 weeks
If you meet these criteria, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire prior to commencing any of the study procedures to determine whether you are eligible to take part in the study. We will also contact your GP to confirm your suitability for the study.
What does participation in the study involve?
The study will involve completing brief questionnaires three times a day for 6 weeks using an electronic diary (see image below) worn on your non-dominant wrist. You will complete the 6-week data collection period in your normal day-to-day environment when prompted by the device. During this study we will not ask you to change your daily routine in any way. At the end of the study, you will receive personalised feedback about the data you provided and a $75 shopping voucher to thank you for your time. You will also be invited to participate in a short interview exploring your views and experience of participating in this study.
Ethical approval
This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: 2018/HE000741).
Funding
This study is funded by MS Australia (ID: 22-195 MS Australia Incubator Grant, 2023-2024)
Register your interest
If you would like to find out more about this study, please complete an Expression of Interest form by clicking the blue button below. After you submit the form, a member of the research team will send you a participant information sheet with full details about the study.