THE SERVICES AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES, AUSTRALIA

This paper reports the results of a study which was designed to provid e initially an extensive demographic profile of people with multiple s clerosis (MS) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Secondly, it examin ed the social and service needs of this group in relation to MS. Final ly, the paper considered and evaluated the services needed to assist i n the management of the disease. Sixteen hundred and four people with MS in NSW were asked to respond to a mailed questionnaire; 1,143 compl eted questionnaires were returned for analysis. Approximately 4-5% of respondents felt that MS had been a threat to their continued employme nt. Fatigue was cited as the main reason for ceasing paid work. The ma in areas of personal needs not being met were respite care, family sup port and support from other people with MS. In rating the relative imp ortance of health professionals in the management of their disease, re spondents rated their family physician as the most important followed by neurologists, physiotherapists and urologists. An important issue i dentified by respondents was the need for education and counseling abo ut MS for their family.