Screening for social needs in people with MS

While medical treatment is key for improving the health of people with MS, social needs also play a big part in health. Presently, there is little focus in MS care on understanding an individual’s circumstances, such as exposure to domestic violence, employment opportunities, access to safe housing, food security, exercise facilities and affordable healthcare. Screening tools for social needs have been used in other clinical settings (e.g. cardiovascular disease), with proven benefits to the health of individuals. These screening tools may identify needs that can then be addressed by linking individuals to allied health or social services.

Ms Isabelle Weld-Blundell and her team will review the screening tools currently available to assess a range of social needs that impact the health of people living with MS in a hospital or clinic setting through a scoping review of scientific and non-scientific literature. After identifying existing tools, they will assess how comprehensive, valid and actionable each is using existing frameworks. Through meetings with people living with MS, carers and clinicians, they will also explore how relevant the existing tools are to MS care in Australia and how they could be adapted for use in MS care in Australia.

Social needs are not routinely assessed or addressed in MS care, despite their massive impact on health. Addressing social needs has the potential to reduce preventable and unfair differences in health outcomes. Ms Weld-Blundell and her team’s work will provide a better understanding of the availability of screening tools for social needs, and how they may be used in the Australian MS care setting. This is the first crucial step to address this gap in MS care.