Multiple Sclerosis: Needs analysis and quality of life of affected people and their environment

Abstract

The evolution of the disability paradigm, and its conceptualization of multiple sclerosis, has been marked by changes in the health concept, in the development of subjective social rights and the progressive implementation of an inclusive model for its approach. This research tries to answer questions about this new paradigm, reviewing the epidemiological situation, previous studies, and developing a complementary quantitative and qualitative methodology. Fieldwork –developed at the Autonomous Community of Navarre– and subsequent analysis offer a significantly higher prevalence than usually handled so far, a fairly stable profile characterized by a severe degree of disablement with strong socioeconomic correlates and a proliferation of pharmacological treatments in comparison to earlier data. The lack of a healing response and the progress in palliative therapies require, as an unavoidable step, the need to focus on those aspects that improve the quality of life of affected people and their environment.