The effect of health-related hardiness education in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Abstract Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with both a long course and high disability rate. It can cause different degrees of neurological impairment, resulting in the increased perception of stress in the patient. Health-related hardiness is psychological defense against stressors in cases of illness. The study was to investigate the role of health-related hardiness between disability and perceived stress in NMOSD patients and conduct health-related hardiness education for NMOSD patients to observe changes in health-related hardiness and perceived stress. Methods The study investigated disability status, health-related hardiness, and perceived stress in NMOSD patients. The mediating effect of health-related hardiness between disability status and perceived stress was verified. Additionally, health-related hardiness education was used as an intervention to improve the health-related hardiess. The Extended Disability Status Score (EDSS), Health-Related Hardiness Scale (HRHS), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used to assess patient disability status, health-related hardiness, and perceived stress. Results 128 patients were completed the investigation of HRHS, EDSS and PSS. 69 patients were enrolled in the health-related hardiness education study. NMOSD patients exhibited high levels of perceived stress. Health-related hardiness played a mediating role between disability and perceived stress, with mediating effect accounting for 12.7% of the total effect. After patients received health-related hardiness education, the score of health-related hardiness were significantly elevated and perceived stress scores were significantly lower. Conclusion Health-related hardiness had a partial mediating effect between disability and perceived stress in NMOSD patients. Health-related hardiness education could effectively increase health-related hardiness, as well reducing perceived stress caused by NMOSD.