Evaluation of nursing students level of knowledge about multiple sclerosis and care

The quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis can be improved by developing strategies to monoye problems or symptom distress associated with the multiple sclerosis and its complications, and by teaching health care personnel methods for coping with multiple sclerosis. The nurses? and nursing students? communication and problem solving skills, and the level of knowledge about multiple sclerosis play an integral role in helping the patients coping with multiple sclerosis. It is a descriptive research. The aim of the study was to assess the nursing students? level of knowledge about multiple sclerosis and to provide suggestions for improving the students? knowledge about multiple sclerosis. This descriptive study was conducted in a school of nursing, located in Istanbul. The study sample comprised of 359 undergraduate students. Data were collected using Student Information Form and a Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge Questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 16). The nursing students? knowledge about Multiple Sclerosis was moderate level. There were statistically significant differences between Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge Questionnaire scores in relation to students? class, age and the high school completed (p < 0.05). The older the students were, higher Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge Questionnaire scores obtained. Study found that the 2nd class students got higher level of knowledge about Multiple Sclerosis than 3rd class students, and 4th class students got higher level of knowledge about Multiple Sclerosis 2nd class students (X2kw = 34.780, p = 0.000). Setting up courses in the curriculum of nursing schools about Multiple Sclerosis and conducting studies on larger samples examining the need for improving the students? knowledge about Multiple Sclerosis and care will contribute positively to patient care.