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Multiple SclerosisBeCoolNCT06248281

Be Cool: An Innovative and Holistic Psychoeducational Program for Multiple Sclerosis Individuals

An observational study of Multiple Sclerosis, run by University of Thessaly at 1 site in Greece.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This observational study aims to investigate the impact of an online psychoeducational program, combined with cooling therapy, nutrition, psychological intervention, and exercise, on the resilience, treatment adherence, symptom management, and quality of life of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 19 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Multiple Sclerosis
What is being tested?
combination of different rehabilitation strategies
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteGreece
Study dates
1 Jun 2023to 28 Feb 2024
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 19 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Participants will be recruited from the GMSS (https://gmss.gr/) based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Who may be able to join

  • Participants must have been diagnosed with MS using the McDonald criteria, ensuring a standardized and validated diagnostic approach.
  • Participants should have been relapse-free during the six months leading up to the study to avoid potential confounding factors.
  • Participants must have no musculoskeletal impediment that could affect their ability to engage in the exercise component of the program.
  • Participants must have a score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ranging from 0 to 5.5, indicating ambulatory ability without the need for a cane for at least 100 meters.
  • Participants should have a history of sensitivity to heat, as reported by their treating physician, justifying the need for cooling therapy as part of the hybrid program.
  • Participants must not have used cooling therapy or participated in any form of exercise training for at least four months prior to their participation in the study.
  • -

Who cannot join

  • Previously diagnosed conditions known to impact physiological responses to heat exposure, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, or kidney disease.
  • Use of medications to manage MS-related symptoms, such as antidepressants, psychostimulants, anticonvulsants, antispasmodics, and anticholinergic drugs.
  • -

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Greece1 site
  • Greek Multiple Sclerosis Society

    Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, 55132

Other trials in Greece

About this study

Official title: Be Cool: An Innovative and Holistic Psychoeducational Program to Improve and Promote Care, Education and Quality of Life for Multiple Sclerosis Individuals

This observational study aims to investigate the impact of an online psychoeducational program, combined with cooling therapy, nutrition, psychological intervention, and exercise, on the resilience, treatment adherence, symptom management, and quality of life of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. The study will last for six months, during which two groups of 15 participants with similar characteristics and a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis will take part in the protocol. Group A will follow the research protocol, while Group B, the Control group, will not participate in any rehabilitation intervention.

Read the detailed description

Fifteen individuals with multiple sclerosis will participate in an innovative, hybrid rehabilitation program, encompassing several key components to enhance their well-being. The program includes:

  1. Exercise Intervention: Participants will engage in specially designed exercise programs. Every two weeks, they will meet virtually with an exercise physiologist via Microsoft Teams for tailored education about their specific needs. Additionally, a customized exercise video will be uploaded weekly to the Teams platform, ensuring ongoing physical engagement.
  2. Nutritional Evaluation and Education: Nutrition is a core focus. A nutritionist will meet with the participants bi-weekly to discuss their dietary needs and educate them on maintaining a balanced diet to support their condition. Further enhancing this aspect, a nutritious recipe will be uploaded to the platform each week, offering practical dietary guidance.
  3. Psychological Support: Psychological well-being is addressed through weekly group meetings conducted by a psychologist. These sessions will utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies to help participants manage their symptoms, accept their condition, and improve their overall quality of life.
  4. Head and Neck Cooling Strategy: Recognizing the importance of temperature regulation in MS, participants will be advised to apply a cooling strategy to the head and neck area for at least two hours daily, providing symptomatic relief.

To monitor progress and adjust the program as needed, participants' functional ability, nutritional status, psychological condition, and overall quality of life will be evaluated at three key points: baseline (before starting the program), at the three-month mark, and upon completion of the program at six months.

This program is structured to provide a holistic, supportive, and adaptable approach to managing multiple sclerosis, focusing on physical health, nutritional balance, psychological support, and practical strategies for daily living.

Being tested
combination of different rehabilitation strategies
Keywords
symptom management, hybrid program, rehabilitation, quality of life, psychoeducational program
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • combination of different rehabilitation strategiesOther

    Also called cooling therapy, diet, phycology-behavioral-mindfulness intervention, exercise traiining

    The psychoeducational program will be conducted through weekly online video-conferencing group sessions that will last for two hours. In addition to these sessions, participants will receive psychoeducational material such as readings, videos, podcasts, worksheets, and homework exercises every week. This material will allow participants to practice at their own pace during the session intervals.

    The exercise training program for individuals with MS will be tailored to meet the unique and individual needs of each participant. To achieve this, a head and neck cooling protocol will be implemented using commercially available cooling equipment, specifically the Headcool Power and Neckcool Tie from Inuteq. Participants will need to wear the cooling cup and neck wrap for two hours daily. The equipment will be activated using 10°C tap water. Finally, a nutritionist will provide personalized nutritional guidance including weekly diet observation and recipe videos.

Study groups in NCT06248281
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental groupThe experimental group will attend a structured psychoeducational program developed to build and promote psychological flexibility. In combination with this, participants of this group will have to follow a head and neck cooling protocol. Also, participants of this group will be required to increase their habitual exercise levels and follow a video exercise program specifically designed for their needs and improve their nutrition based on the instructions of a nutritionist and videos specially designed for them.
Receives: Other: combination of different rehabilitation strategies
Control groupAs per the study plan, the Control group has been designated as the control group. They will continue with their normal lifestyle without any participation in rehabilitation activities or programs.
Receives: Other: combination of different rehabilitation strategies

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. anxiety and depression

    This will be estimated with the "The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - HADS". The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a widely used questionnaire specifically designed to identify and measure the levels of anxiety and depression in individuals. It is particularly useful in medical settings, as it helps distinguish between psychological distress and physical illness.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  2. Overall quality of life, namely satisfaction with their life

    This will be estimated with the questionnaire of Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54)

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  3. Perception of stress

    Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) will be used. This is a widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress. It assesses the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful. Items on the PSS ask about feelings and thoughts during the last month, and scores on the PSS can range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  4. Cognitive fusion which refers to the degree to which an individual's thoughts and feelings are intertwined with their sense of self, often leading to an inability to separate from, or 'defuse' from, these internal experiences.

    The Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ-7) questionnaire that measures cognitive fusion, which a key concept in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will be used. The CFQ-7, with its 7 items, assesses the extent to which a person experiences this phenomenon.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  5. The value of living

    The Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ) will be used. The VLQ is designed to assess valued living, which is another core concept in ACT. It helps individuals to identify what is truly important and meaningful to them in various domains of life (such as family, career, health) and to what extent they have been living in accordance with these values.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  6. Psychological flexibility which is the ability to be in the present moment with full awareness and openness to experiences, and to take action guided by one's values.

    The MPFI-Psychological Flexibility Subscale will be used. This subscale is part of a larger questionnaire and specifically measures psychological flexibility, an essential aspect of mental health and well-being.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  7. The resilience which is defined as the ability to cope with and bounce back from adversity.

    The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRISC-25) will be used. This 25-item scale measures resilience, defined as the ability to cope with and bounce back from adversity. Higher scores indicate greater resilience.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  8. Aerobic capacity and ability to walk

    The Two Minute Walk Test (2MWT) is a simple, easy-to-administer functional exercise test used primarily in clinical settings. It measures the distance an individual is able to walk on a flat, hard surface in a period of two minutes.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  9. Lower body strength and functional mobility

    The Five Times Sit to Stand Test (5xSST) will be used which is a simple yet effective physical performance test used primarily to assess lower body strength and functional mobility. The test involves timing how long it takes an individual to stand up and sit down five times as quickly as possible from a standard height chair without using their arms for support. A longer time to complete the test generally indicates lower functional performance.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  10. Static and dynamic balance ability

    The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) will be used which is a widely used clinical test of a person's static and dynamic balance abilities. It is particularly common in elderly populations and among those recovering from injury or dealing with conditions that affect balance.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  11. Mobility and walking speed

    The Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25-FW) will be used which is a functional test commonly used to assess mobility and walking speed in individuals, particularly those with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).The test involves timing how quickly a person can walk 25 feet at their usual pace, usually conducted along a flat, straight course.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Finger dexterity and arm-hand coordination

    The 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) will be used which is a standardized, widely used assessment tool in clinical and research settings to measure finger dexterity and arm-hand coordination. It's particularly useful for evaluating upper extremity function in individuals with neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke.

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  2. Core temperature

    With a gastrointestinal telemetric capsule (e-Celsius)

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  3. Skin temperature

    iButtons

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

  4. Nutritional status, how balance is their nutrition

    This will be estimated with questionnaires

    Measured: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Feb 2024
  2. Study start1 Jun 2023
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2023
  4. Study completion28 Feb 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
30 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06248281
Sponsor's protocol ID
396/23
Acronym
BeCool
Status last verified
May 2024
First submitted
18 Dec 2023
Last updated
8 May 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Once the protocol is completed and published, all the data will be available upon request to other researchers.

Publications

  • Kaltsatou A, Flouris AD. Impact of pre-cooling therapy on the physical performance and functional capacity of multiple sclerosis patients: A systematic review. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019 Jan;27:419-423. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.11.013. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

    PubMed 30544086

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Multiple Sclerosis, run by University of Thessaly at 1 site in Greece.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Greece. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

anxiety and depression (time frame: Baseline, after three months and at the end of the six months). The study lists 11 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06248281, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2024; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.

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