Featured Article on Effective Measures of Cognitive Functioning Among People with Multiple Sclerosis

Hackensack, NJ -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/31/2014 --The leading peer-reviewed publication on multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical care, the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC), announces Francois Bethoux, MD, Cleveland Clinic, as its new Editor in Chief. Dr. Bethoux completed his medical studies and residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Lyon, France. After moving to the United States to complete a Neuroimmunology fellowship at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research (affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation), he remained on staff and today serves as the Director of Rehabilitation Services.

Dr. Bethoux's research interests include outcomes measurements in both general and MS-specific neurorehabilitation, gait analysis, and evaluation of symptomatic therapies and rehabilitative interventions for spasticity in MS and other disorders of the central nervous system. He also participated in the design and testing of a new leg brace (hip flexion assist orthosis) in patients with MS, which can improve walking performance and leg strength.

The Spring 2014 Issue of IJMSC is the first issue under Dr. Bethoux’s editorial guidance and its content features a multidisciplinary approach to MS care. The lead article, “Reliability and Validity of PROMIS Cognitive Abilities and Cognitive Concerns Scales Among People with Multiple Sclerosis,” reports on the psychometric properties of two short self-report assessments of perceived cognitive function. These eight-item questionnaires are derived from a broad National Institutes of Health initiative, the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).

According to Dr. Bethoux, the findings of authors Heather Becker, PhD, Alexa Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, FAAN, HwaYoung Lee, PhD, and Vicki Kullberg, MA, all affiliated with the School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, are significant in MS care.

“The combination of strong study methodology and widespread practical application, makes this an important article for health-care professionals,” said Dr. Bethoux.

IJMSC also features nurses’ perspectives on limiting the flu-like symptoms associated with interferon therapy in MS. Dr. Mary Filipi and nursing colleagues throughout the country developed a consensus statement that gives clear and practical guidance that can be applied in day-to-day clinical practice.

“Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older People with Multiple Sclerosis,” authored by Dr. Marijean Buhse and colleagues, reminds health-care providers not to forget the challenges faced by patients as they age with a chronic progressive disease.

Two more articles cover issues related to pelvic floor dysfunction in MS, and “Comparing Two Conditions of Administering the Six-Minute Walk Test in People with Multiple Sclerosis” explores two modes of administration of one of the most validated tests of walking endurance in MS.

It is important that individuals with MS have access to health-care professionals who specialize in the disease, given the complexity of needs and treatment decisions, and “Interest in Providing Multiple Sclerosis Care and Subspecializing in Multiple Sclerosis Among Neurology Residents,” by Dr. Michael Halpern and colleagues, provides strategies that encourage neurology residents’ interest in providing MS patient care and pursuing MS subspecialization.

All articles in the Spring 2014 Issue of IJMSC are accessible through various types of searches on PubMed Central (PMC), a free electronic archive of full-text biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the US National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine (NLM). Three years’ worth of back issues (going back to the Spring 2011 issue) of IJMSC are now also included in the PMC archive. Citations and abstracts of these articles are retrievable in PubMed, the NLM’s journal abstract database.

The Spring 2014 Issue of the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC) can be accessed from the publication website at www.ijmsc.org.

About IJMSC
The International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC) is the official peer-reviewed journal of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and leading publication on MS clinical care. It is also the official publication of the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN), the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Therapists (IOMSRT), and Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (RIMS). The quarterly IJMSC publishes high-quality research, reviews, and consensus papers on a broad range of clinical topics of interest to MS health-care professionals, including neurological treatment, nursing care, rehabilitation, neuropsychological status, and psychiatric/psychosocial care. The mission of the journal is to promote multidisciplinary cooperation and communication among the global network of MS health-care professionals, with the goal of maximizing the quality of life of people affected by MS.

The IJMSC is also a winner of the 2013 APEX Award (Awards for Publishing Excellence), in the category “Magazines & Journals - Print, over 32 pages.” The APEX Awards recognize outstanding publications of all types for their overall quality and communications effectiveness. For more information on the journal, visit www.ijmsc.org.

About CMSC
CMSC, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, is the leading educational, training, and networking organization for MS health-care professionals and researchers. The CMSC’s mission is to promote quality MS care through educational programming and accreditation including live and online events, research grants, technical journals and papers, and targeted advocacy efforts. The CMSC member network includes more than 7,000 international health-care clinicians and scientists committed to MS care as well as more than 60 Veterans Administration MS Programs and 225 MS Centers in the US, Canada, and Europe. For more information, visit www.mscare.org