Research Article
AssessmentandManagementofCognitiveandPsychosocial
DifficultiesforPeoplewithMultipleSclerosisinIreland:A
NationalSurveyofClinicalPractice
Sin´ eadM.Hynes ,
1
FiadhnaitO’Keeffe,
2
EimearBane,
1
MeganH.Oglesby ,
1
ChristopherP.Dwyer ,
3
RobertJoyce ,
1
andOlgaA.Klein
4
1
Discipline of Occupational erapy, School of Health Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
2
St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
3
School of Social Science, Technological University of the Shannon IE, Athlone, Ireland
4
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Rostock, DE, Germany
Correspondence should be addressed to Sin´ ead M. Hynes; sinead.hynes@nuigalway.ie
Received 11 July 2022; Accepted 28 September 2022; Published 21 October 2022
Academic Editor: Mislav Radi´ c
Copyright © 2022 Sin´ ead M. Hynes et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
Background. A recent survey of 109 healthcare professionals explored how UK healthcare professionals typically assess and treat
multiple sclerosis (MS)-related cognitive impairment. Little is currently known about what constitutes usual care for cognitive
impairment and psychosocial care for people with MS in Ireland. Aim. e aim of the current research was to survey healthcare
professionals (HCPs) who work with people with MS, to understand current assessment and management of cognition and
psychosocial care in people with MS in the Republic of Ireland. Methods. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Data were
collected online through Microsoft forms and through postal responses. e original UK questionnaire was adapted, piloted, and
distributed to Irish HCPs. Participants were qualified HCPs who work clinically with people with MS in the Republic of Ireland.
Results. Ninety-eight HCPs completed the survey. Only 34% of those surveyed reported routine screening of cognition for people
with MS within their services; approximately, 36% HCPs reported that they did not provide information or services in relation to
cognition to people with MS and 39% reported not referring elsewhere when cognitive difficulties were suspected. Out of the 98
HCPs, 47% reported assessing mood difficulties as part of their services, with 14% unsure. In total, 70% of participants reported
onward referral took place if mood difficulties were identified. e Montreal Cognitive Assessment was the most commonly
administrated cognitive assessment. Cognitive intervention choices were found to be guided by clinical judgement in 75.5% of
cases. Discussion. Despite the high importance placed on cognitive and psychosocial care, there is very little consistency in
treatment and assessment across services for people with MS in Ireland.
1.Introduction
Cognitive impairment affects 40 to 65% of people with
multiple sclerosis (MS) [1, 2] and can impact memory, at-
tention, processing speed, and executive functioning [3].
ese deficits can in turn have a significant impact on in-
dividuals’ quality of life [4] and ability to remain in em-
ployment [5]. Specifically, only 43% of people of working age
with MS are in employment in Ireland, compared with the
60% average of people with MS in the EU [6]. Moreover, a
recent Irish study found participants with MS were dis-
satisfied with the lack of intervention and general awareness
regarding cognitive difficulties in MS [7]. Currently, little is
known about what constitutes ‘usual care’ of cognitive
impairment in people with MS in Ireland. As such, a greater
understanding of the assessment and treatment of cognitive
impairments is overdue in an Irish context.
With respect to assessment, a number of evidence-based
cognitive test batteries for people with MS are recommended
for clinical practice, including the Minimal Assessment of
Hindawi
International Journal of Clinical Practice
Volume 2022, Article ID 3232076, 13 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3232076