The Impact of a Nurse-Led Virtual Group Intervention on Purpose and Quality of Life in Adult Women With Multiple Sclerosis

Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves complex psychological and existential challenges that may influence well-being, identity, and perceived life direction. PURPOSE-MS is a structured behavioral intervention designed to support meaning-making and purpose exploration among adult women with MS. This study uses a repeated-measures, single-group design to evaluate within-participant change across meaning-related constructs and quality of life over a six-week intervention period.

The study integrates two complementary frameworks. The quantitative portion is grounded in the Purpose and Meaning in Life tradition, which conceptualizes meaning as both an evaluative state (Presence of Meaning) and an active cognitive process (Search for Meaning). These constructs serve as the measurable variables for hypothesis testing.

Parse's Human Becoming Theory provides the philosophical structure for how the intervention is facilitated. Consistent with Parse, the intervention prioritizes participants' interpretations, reflective engagement, and the co-creation of meaning within a relational environment. Parse guides facilitator posture and session flow but does not function as the causal mechanism under evaluation.

A single-arm, quasi-experimental repeated-measures design is used. Participants complete standardized assessments at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention. This design allows examination of temporal change and feasibility ahead of future controlled trials. The analytic strategy focuses on patterns of change rather than group comparisons.

Informed consent is obtained electronically prior to participation. Eligible individuals receive a secure link to the consent form and meet synchronously with study personnel to review the study purpose, expectations, risks, confidentiality protections, and voluntary nature of participation. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions before signing electronically. They are informed that they may withdraw at any time without penalty, may skip any activity, and that data will be de-identified and stored securely. Consent is documented within the institution's approved electronic record-keeping system. No identifiable health information is collected beyond contact information needed for study communication.