Multiple Sclerosis Care - A Practical Manual: (Oxford Care Manuals)

Multiple Sclerosis Care - A Practical Manual is a concise and easy to use reference source for all aspects of care in the management and understanding of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is useful for all health professionals involved in the care of people with MS, including hospital doctors and GPs, therapists and social workers. It takes account of the latest scientific evidence and guidelines in the management of MS, and takes a practical and pragmatic approach to the evaluation of controversial aspects of MS care. The book is divided into five sections, beginning with background information on MS history. The second section concentrates on the diagnosis of MS, while the third deals with ongoing management of the condition. Part four provides practical advice on auditing and service evaluation, and finally, the book lists additional resources, websites, charities and other useful information. Each aspect of MS is easy to access, with simple line diagrams and tables, as well as examples of investigations, including MR scans. The book offers handy, easy to use information for practical and scientific information about MS. The handbook has been written by a neurologist, physiotherapist and specialist nurse, all leaders in their field, who are all involved in both MS research and active service delivery to people affected by the disease.

Table of Contents:
Background 1: The history of Multiple Sclerosis 2: Multiple Sclerosis pathology 3: Immunology of Multiple Sclerosis 4: Multiple Sclerosis definitions and disease classification 5: Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis 6: Genetics of Multiple Sclerosis 7: Measuring Multiple Sclerosis 8: Frequently used assessment scales 9: How to measure treatment effectiveness 10: How to determine whether treatments are effective The diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis 11: General points on making a diagnosis 12: Sites of Multiple Sclerosis attack and clinically isolated syndromes 13: Investigation for possible Multiple Sclerosis 14: Conveying the diagnosis Treatment Options 15: Treatments that may affect the underlying cause of Multiple Sclerosis 16: Treatment of relapses 17: Other treatments Ongoing Management 18: Principles of ongoing management 19: The role of the MS nurse 20: Guided self management 21: Comprehensive assessment of needs 22: A multidisciplinary team approach to management 23: Providing ongoing support 24: Rehabilitation concepts and principles 25: Approaches to rehabilitation 26: Models of care and organisation of delivery 27: Specialist regional services 28: Local services 29: Long-term support 30: Symptomatic management 31: Psychosocial issues 32: Complementary and alternative therapies 33: Mobility issues 34: Assistive aids and equipment, adaptations and personal support 35: Evaluation of services 36: Integrated care pathways 37: Core competencies of staff 38: Other useful resources

About the Author :
Professor John Zajicek trained in Cambridge and London and has spent more than 20 years researching MS and looking after people who have it. He is currently working in the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, and leads a large research team that conducts research into clinical trials for people with MS, with a particular focus on the uses of cannabis derived medicines, and research into the mechanisms of MS. Professor Zajicek is on the MS Guidelines Committee of the Association of British Neurologists, and has advised NICE on aspects of MS. Mrs. Bernadette Porter has been trained at South Bank University, Tor and South West College, and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, and is a registered nurse in Ireland. Mrs. Porter has been a lecturer at many colleges on the subject of Multiple Sclerosis, and has been published numerous times on the subject.She is Inaugral Chair of the UK MS Specialist Nurse Association, and nurse advisor to multiple institutes, including The Royal College of Nursing. Mrs. Porter is also the Key Note address to a select committee at the Hoses of Parliament. Mrs Porter has been awarded many accolades throughout her career, including The UK MS Scoiety Measuring Success Award: Team award for diagnostic services, 1st prize in 2000. Dr. Jenny Freeman trained in Physiotherapy at Curtin University in Western Australia in 1983. She specialised in adult neurology, working at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London from 1988 - 1998. She completed her PhD evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation in people with Multiple Sclerosis and the evaluation of outcome measurement instruments. She now works at the Faculty of Health and Social Work in Plymouth University. Dr. Freeman is also an Honorary Lecturer at the Institute of Neurology and is the Physiotherapy Advisor to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Review :
`' British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine Newsletter,