IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i8p1236-d1720034.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Omanis with Multiple Sclerosis: Single Tertiary Center Experience

Author

Listed:
  • Jihad Yaqoob Ali Al Kharbooshi

    (Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London Health Sciences Center, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Abdullah Al-Asmi

    (Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman)

  • Ronald Wesonga

    (Department of Statistics, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman)

  • Samir Al Adawi

    (Department of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman)

  • Amal S. S. Al-Fahdi

    (Psychosocial Unit, Department of Holistic Care, Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center, University Medical City, Muscat 123, Oman)

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in Oman, necessitating targeted healthcare planning and patient support. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on MS management and disease course, incidence, and outcomes of COVID-19, psychosocial and mental health effects of the pandemic, and demographic and clinical predictors of the effects related to COVID-19 among Omani PwMS. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021. Adult (18–60 years) Omani PwMS completed a structured interview along with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5). Clinical data on relapses and disease-modifying therapies and adherence were analyzed. The data was statistically analyzed. (3) Results: Of 104 PwMS (73.1% female), 22.1% contracted COVID-19, with fatigue being the most reported symptom (87%). Female sex ( p = 0.042), younger age (18–34 vs. 35–45 years; p = 0.014), diagnosis of COVID-19 ( p = 0.037), and low current mental well-being scores ( p = 0.021) predicted greater COVID-19-related effects. (4) Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to study the mental resilience of this subgroup of PwMS and provide them with targeted support during crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Jihad Yaqoob Ali Al Kharbooshi & Abdullah Al-Asmi & Ronald Wesonga & Samir Al Adawi & Amal S. S. Al-Fahdi, 2025. "Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Omanis with Multiple Sclerosis: Single Tertiary Center Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(8), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1236-:d:1720034
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/8/1236/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/8/1236/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1236-:d:1720034. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.