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.

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:

90% reported experiencing fatigue, but only 8% had received any treatment

Developing the REFUEL-MS intervention and training facilitators.

Our Process

Understanding how to adapt the intervention for underserved and seldom-heard groups.

Optimising the intervention by determining it optimal features and functionalities

Considering contextual barriers and facilitators to refine REFUEL-MS

Assessing implementation outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the intervention

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. If you are someone living with MS and want to be involved in the co-production of the REFUEL-MS digital intervention, get in touch!

We have just received for ethical approval for stage 3, which will involve a small number of people living with MS testing the functions of the REFUEL-MS app. When we are open for recruitment, we will include a link below (so check back soon!)