Menu
MS is one of the most common neurological disorders and causes of disability in young people. Due to the high complexity of care that can be involved, there is a need for a detailed description of all the MS resources available and how they are used. Currently, we do not have a good understanding of MS service availability, workforce and pattern of MS care in many local communities in Australia.
Dr Nasser Bagheri’s study will, for the first time, assess all services providing care for people with MS in the ACT region. He will generate new data on the pattern of MS care for people with MS, healthcare professionals and policymakers in the ACT. This work will provide a better understanding of the availability, capacity, accessibility and adequacy of the resources for people living with MS, as well as identify gaps in the MS care system in the ACT region.
Dr Bagheri aims to develop a new local context-based decision-making tool that can be used by people living with MS and healthcare professionals for monitoring, reviewing and improving MS care in the ACT region. The aim is to eventually extend this nationally.
Currently, the study team has performed and published a systematic review and identified MS care services in the region. The systematic review found that the usefulness of geographic mapping of services to help with access and planning of care in MS is not well-understood internationally.
Unfortunately, restrictions with COVID-19 during 2020 delayed the study interviews, but the study has now met its goals and is in the process of being published.
Study findings revealed that services specific to MS in the ACT were few, and predominantly health-related. Additionally, the researchers identified that social and co-ordination services were lacking. This is important because this situation provides no choices for people with MS living in the ACT region except to use generic neurology services, which mostly requires out of pocket payment, or to seek MS specific services in the nearby states (e.g., needing to travel to New South Wales).
It is anticipated that this new information could help inform the development of appropriate MS specific services and supports for the ACT in the future.
Updated: 31 March 2022
Dr Nasser Bagheri
$25,000
2019
2 years
Past project
