Author(s): Kübra GÃMÃÅ Serap SEZGÄ°N
This descriptive study aimed to determine the effect of intolerance of uncertainty in multiple sclerosis patients on suicidal ideation. The study was conducted at Samsun Ondokuz May?s University, Medical Faculty Neurology Outpatient Department between 01 March 2011 and 11 September 2012. Target population of the study consisted of 560 MS patients from Samsun, Ondokuz May?s University, Medical Faculty Neurology Outpatient Department. Minimum sample size was determined as 125 via Episcope Win 2.0 program and all Multiple Sclerosis patients (N=209) who were admitted to the neurology outpatient department between the dates specified and met inclusion criteria participated in the study. No sample selection method was used. Because of 17 patients were illiterate, 7 did not want to participate in the study, 5 were over 65 years old, 3 had a history of depression and 2 had a history of psychiatric disorder, a total of 34 patients were excluded from the study and the study was conducted with 175 Multiple Sclerosis patients. Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Suicidal Ideation Scale and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores rated by neurology physicians by evaluating the neurology records were used to collect the data. Expert opinion was applied for the content validity of the data collection instrument. SPSS16.0 package program was used for statistical analysis of the data. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test were used in the statistical evaluation of the data. According to the data obtained from the study, it was understood that the mean age of patients in the study was 35.82 ± 9.83, of the patients 67.4% were female and 70.3% were married, 52.6% were living in cities, 56.6% were unemployed, 10.9% were retired and 79.4% were coming from middle income families and 76.6% were in the RR MS clinical type. The mean intolerance of uncertainty score of the participants was 64.06 ± 30.61 (0-125) whereas the mean suicidal ideation score was 6.45 ± 4.53 (0-17). It was observed that intolerance of uncertainty of the patients participating in the study influenced the suicidal ideation (p <0.05). In accordance with the results obtained in the study, it is recommended that healthcare professionals should conduct multidisciplinary studies by using health education and counseling services to reduce uncertainty and suicidal ideation in MS patients.
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