A Blended Digital Self-Management
tReatmEnt for FatigUe in multiplE scLerosis (REFUEL-MS)
Our aim is to design, develop, evaluate and implement a tailored digital treatment to help manage MS-fatigue.
REFUEL-MS explores thoughts, feelings and actions which research shows can make fatigue better or worse. This knowledge will be used to develop personalised ways of managing fatigue, including incorporating physical activity into daily routines. The treatment will be delivered digitally with guidance from physiotherapists and occupational-therapists.
Why do we need REFUEL-MS?
1 in 500 people in the UK are living with MS.
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Fatigue is one of the condition's severe symptoms, shown to impact quality of life significantly. While cognitive and behavioral treatments including exercise hold promise for treating MS fatigue, these are not routinely available in the NHS.
In our survey of 4,210 people living with MS:
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90% reported experiencing fatigue, but only 8% had received any treatment
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Stage 1
Developing the REFUEL-MS intervention and training facilitators.
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Stage 2
Understanding how to adapt the intervention for underserved and seldom-heard groups.
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Stage 3
Optimising the intervention by determining it optimal features and functionalities
Our Process
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Stage 2
Understanding how to adapt the intervention for underserved and seldom-heard groups.
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Stage 3
Optimising the intervention by determining it optimal features and functionalities
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Stage 4
Considering contextual barriers and facilitators to refine REFUEL-MS
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Stage 5
Assessing implementation outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the intervention
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Stage 6
Integrating the intervention into a sustainable model, and adapting it to other conditions
Get Involved!
Patient and public involvement (PPI) has been crucial throughout the development of the programme and will continue to seek your input as we develop REFUEL-MS.
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If you have seen one of our posters or heard about us from the community, please click
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If you have seen one of our posters or heard about us from the NHS, please click
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Meet the Team!
Previous Members
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Hiba Adan (Research Assistant)
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Sanjana Prabhakar (MSc Research Project)
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Remaira Seetal (BSc Summer Student)
Collaborators
Afsana Faheem
Diversity collaborator
Federica Picariello
Co-Investigator
Marietta van der Linden
Co-Investigator
Sarah Thomas
Co-Investigator
Wendy Hendrie
Physiotherapist
Alexandra Pollitt
Co-Investigator
Helen Eldridge
Co-Lead of PAG
Pam Bostock
Occupational Therapist
Tracy Finch
Co-Investigator
Trishna Bharadia
Diversity collaborator and MS champion
Anisha Gangotra
Diversity and inclusive exercise collaborator
James Shearer
Co-Investigator
Sam Norton
Co-Investigator
Tom Sanders
Co-Investigator
Barbara Barrett
Co-Investigator
Jenny Freeman
Co-Investigator
Tom Mercer
Co-Investigator
Victoria Williams
Co-Investigator
In The News
Meet the researchers who want seldom-heard groups to be at the centre of their research into fatigue