A new section has been added to healthtalk.org to support family members and friends of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The resource is based on the experiences of 40 people who shared their stories on film in interviews with University of Oxford researchers.

Visitors to the website can find out what happens when a loved one has multiple sclerosis by reading about the experiences of others and watching clips from the interviews.

The new ‘MS: friends & family experiences’ section of healthtalk.org is comprised of 25 web pages and 250 video and audio clips and covers every aspect of life with multiple sclerosis from the point of view of friends and family, including topics such as social lives, relationships and feelings, as well as practical issues such as work, money, looking after home and family and home adaptations.

The research for the MS project was carried out by Nic Hughes, at the time a researcher from The Health Experiences Research Group (HERG) at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary care. Nic travelled around the country with a video camera, interviewing people in their own homes. Nic was supported in his research by a panel of expert including health professionals, researchers, interviewees from the project and a representative from the MS Society.

The group uses the same method for each health issue covered on healthtalk.org. Sara Ryan, Research Director for HERG explains “We use rigorous research methods to capture the full ranges of experiences a patient might expect, not just the more sensational stories or hearsay you might find online”.

The new resource is available at: healthtalk.org/ms-friends-family