Maguire, Rebecca and Hynes, Sinead and Seebacher, Barbara and Block, Valerie J and Zackowski, Kathy M and Jonsdottir, Johanna and Finlayson, Marcia and Plummer, Prue and Freeman, Jennifer and Giesser, Barbara and Geldern, Gloria von and Ploughman, Michelle (2021) Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life. Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 7 (3). p. 205521732110380. ISSN 2055-2173

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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has likely had a negative impact on rehabilitation and quality of life (QoL) research in multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: We explored perceived barriers to research among 87 researchers, representing 18 countries, both prior to and since COVID-19. Results: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test found that significantly more researchers reported experiencing barriers to research since the onset of the pandemic compared to pre-COVID-19 (p < .001), with 78% of respondents reporting at least some barriers since COVID-19. The most commonly-cited barriers related to participant access (n ¼ 38) and interruptions/delays to projects (n ¼ 19). Although no gender differences were found in the number of barriers reported, female respondents were more likely to cite time or competing demands as barriers to research. Females were also more likely to perceive being negatively impacted by the pandemic compared to other genders (p ¼ .007). Conclusions: Implications for the future landscape of rehabilitation research in MS are discussed

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Maguire, R., Hynes, S., Seebacher, B., Valerie, J.B., Kathy, M.Z., Jonsdottir, J., Finlayson, M., Plummer, P., Freeman, J., Giesser, B., Gloria, v.G. and Ploughman, M. (2021) Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life. Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 7 (3), 20552173211038030.
Keywords:	Multiple sclerosis; quality of life; rehabilitation; barriers to research; gender; COVID-19;
Academic Unit:	Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > Human Health Institute
Item ID:	17146
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1177/20552173211038030
Depositing User:	Rebecca Maguire
Date Deposited:	04 May 2023 13:06
Journal or Publication Title:	Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical
Publisher:	Sage Publishing
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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