Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life

Rebecca Maguire; Sinead Hynes; Barbara Seebacher; Valerie J. Block; Kathy M. Zackowski; Johanna Jonsdottir; Marcia Finlayson; Prue Plummer; Jennifer Freeman; Barbara Giesser; Gloria von Geldern; Michelle Ploughman

doi:10.1177/20552173211038030

Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life

Rebecca Maguire^*, Sinead Hynes, Barbara Seebacher, Valerie J. Block, Kathy M. Zackowski, Johanna Jonsdottir, Marcia Finlayson, Prue Plummer, Jennifer Freeman, Barbara Giesser, Gloria von Geldern, Michelle Ploughman

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Health Professions

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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 = 38) and interruptions/delays to projects (n = 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 = .007). Conclusions Implications for the future landscape of rehabilitation research in MS are discussed.

Original language	English
Number of pages	0
Journal	Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical
Volume	7
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/20552173211038030
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2021

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Maguire, R., Hynes, S., Seebacher, B., Block, V. J., Zackowski, K. M., Jonsdottir, J., Finlayson, M., Plummer, P., Freeman, J., Giesser, B., Geldern, G. V., & 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). https://doi.org/10.1177/20552173211038030

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title = "Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life",

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 = 38) and interruptions/delays to projects (n = 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 = .007). Conclusions Implications for the future landscape of rehabilitation research in MS are discussed. ",

author = "Rebecca Maguire and Sinead Hynes and Barbara Seebacher and Block, {Valerie J.} and Zackowski, {Kathy M.} and Johanna Jonsdottir and Marcia Finlayson and Prue Plummer and Jennifer Freeman and Barbara Giesser and Geldern, {Gloria von} and Michelle Ploughman",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1177/20552173211038030",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical",

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Maguire, R, Hynes, S, Seebacher, B, Block, VJ, Zackowski, KM, Jonsdottir, J, Finlayson, M, Plummer, P, Freeman, J, Giesser, B, Geldern, GV & 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, vol. 7, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552173211038030

Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life. / Maguire, Rebecca; Hynes, Sinead; Seebacher, Barbara et al.
In: Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, Vol. 7, No. 3, 01.07.2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life

AU - Maguire, Rebecca

AU - Hynes, Sinead

AU - Seebacher, Barbara

AU - Block, Valerie J.

AU - Zackowski, Kathy M.

AU - Jonsdottir, Johanna

AU - Finlayson, Marcia

AU - Plummer, Prue

AU - Freeman, Jennifer

AU - Giesser, Barbara

AU - Geldern, Gloria von

AU - Ploughman, Michelle

PY - 2021/7/1

Y1 - 2021/7/1

N2 - 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 = 38) and interruptions/delays to projects (n = 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 = .007). Conclusions Implications for the future landscape of rehabilitation research in MS are discussed.

AB - 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 = 38) and interruptions/delays to projects (n = 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 = .007). Conclusions Implications for the future landscape of rehabilitation research in MS are discussed.

UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/context/hp-research/article/1254/viewcontent/20552173211038030.pdf

U2 - 10.1177/20552173211038030

DO - 10.1177/20552173211038030

M3 - Article

SN - 2055-2173

VL - 7

JO - Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical

JF - Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical

IS - 3

ER -

Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life

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