Next Steps with MS: Implementing 1:1 Nurse-Led Virtual Support for People Newly Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction
Patients newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) often face considerable uncertainty, isolation, and difficulty understanding how to manage symptoms and plan for the future. While neurology and MS nursing services typically focus on diagnosis, initiation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), and medical monitoring, many people find it difficult to access personalized education and psychosocial support early in their journey. Recognizing this gap, MS Ireland developed a pilot service offering 1:1 nurse-led support via Zoom to deliver accessible, patient-centred care outside of hospital settings.

Objective
This pilot aimed to test whether structured virtual support sessions could (a) improve newly diagnosed individuals’ confidence in managing symptoms and accessing services; (b) facilitate referral into MS Ireland supports (physio, fatigue programmes, peer networks); and (c) evaluate feasibility, satisfaction, and potential scalability of the model.

Service Development
A tailored screening form was created to capture participant demographics, diagnosis date, and topic preferences (e.g. fatigue, anxiety, bladder/bowel, diet, adjustment). Participants receive a 45-minute Zoom session with the MS Support & Education Nurse. All interactions are documented within Salesforce, allowing continuity with MS Ireland’s existing casework infrastructure. The pilot ran from September to October 2025, targeting ten participants.

Results & Early Outcomes
Ten individuals participated. Among them:

• Three (30%) were referred into MS Ireland physiotherapy programmes, with assessments scheduled for January.

• Four (40%) expressed interest and were enrolled into the upcoming FACETS fatigue-management course.

• One (10%) chose to attend the Younger Persons Week programme.

• Two (20%) were signposted to peer support platforms (Shift.ms, MS Together).
  Participants rated their satisfaction as an average of 9/10. Feedback included statements like “Really helpful”, “Great intro into MS Ireland services”, and “Good to speak to someone who understands”.

Conclusion & Next Steps
This pilot demonstrates that nurse-led virtual sessions are feasible and well-received, filling a service gap by providing early, personalized support. Going forward, the model could be refined with structured referral criteria, limitation on number of sessions per participant, and integration into MS Ireland’s national service structure. A larger-scale evaluation is planned to assess impact on longer-term engagement, self-management, and wellbeing.