Psychology experts at NUI Galway have developed a new online treatment programme to help people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Dr Christopher Dwyer, Post-Doctoral Researcher and Psychology Lecturer at NUI Galway.

The MindfulnessforMS programme will provide participants with eight online mindfulness-based instruction and practice sessions.

The Centre for Pain Research in NUI Galway is currently recruiting people with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis to take part in research evaluating the treatment programme.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘The Centre for Pain Research at NUI Galway, with support from MS Ireland, is currently recruiting people with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis to take part in research evaluating the treatment programme.’ #MultipleSclerosis #MS” quote=”The Centre for Pain Research at NUI Galway, with support from MS Ireland, is currently recruiting people with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis to take part in research evaluating the treatment programme.”]

Dr Christopher Dwyer, coordinator of the study at NUI Galway, said:

“In recent years, mindfulness has emerged as a popular strategy for psychological wellbeing. Research has shown that mindfulness-based psychological interventions can be used to help ease MS-related symptoms, including fatigue and anxiety.”

Convenient and cost-effective

Online interventions have emerged as a popular platform for such programmes, as many people have access to the internet and, perhaps more importantly, because people can log in and practice mindfulness from the safety and comfort of their own home, in a potentially cost-effective manner, without needing to schedule appointments and meet face-to-face with an instructor.

Mindfulness-based psychological interventions can be used to help ease MS-related symptoms.

The free online sessions within the MindfulnessforMS programme will focus on aiding participants to conduct mindfulness with respect to their attention and awareness of their own thought process. Participants will be provided with instructions on a range of paced activities to encourage helpful coping responses.

No need to attend a clinic

People who take part in the MindfulnessforMS trial will not need to attend any clinic or NUI Galway at any stage. Materials are tailored for those wishing to learn effective ways of managing their MS.

For further information, visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/centre-for-pain-research/

Interested in reading more about the use of online platforms and technology in education?  Read about this Limerick school bringing virtual learning and development of ICT skills into their teaching.

And if you’d like to learn more about using digital resources to develop your own classroom check out this past event on “Classroom Flipping” that links to some great resources and a link to a course entitled “Flipping your classroom online”.

And remember to find us on Twitter @EdMatters and use the hashtag #EducationMatters to keep the conversation going.