JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that disproportionately affects women. Individuals living with MS experience high healthcare service use, yet many report healthcare access and use barriers. Virtual care technologies can improve access to care for individuals living with MS. However, if not carefully designed, virtual care technologies can exacerbate existing health inequities related to gender and disability. Despite efforts to build equitable and accessible digital health technologies, research and interventions remain limited for disabled people, women, and especially for those at the intersection of these identities.

Objective:

This research seeks to co-develop practice recommendations for disability-centred virtual care technology in Canada for women living with MS. The research objectives include: 1) Identify the barriers and facilitators influencing virtual care technology access and use, and how they vary by sociodemographic, among women living with MS, 2) Co-develop evidence-informed practice recommendations to advance equitable and accessible virtual care technologies, and 3) Mobilize knowledge collaboratively with community organizations, virtual care providers, and women with lived experience, while building capacity among women living with MS to influence virtual care practice.

Methods:

First, an advisory committee will be established to guide study design, implementation, interpretation, and knowledge mobilization activities throughout the study. Second, a nation-wide, cross-sectional survey will be co-developed with the advisory committee to gather sociodemographic information and identify barriers and facilitators to accessing and using virtual care technologies in Canada. MS Canada and regional MS Clinics will support survey recruitment of women living with MS, and data will be co-analyzed with the advisory committee. Qualitative data will be analyzed using a narrative analysis and quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and regression analyses. Third, survey findings will be used to co-develop evidence-informed practice recommendations and translated into accessible knowledge mobilization products for community organizations, virtual care providers, and women with MS.

Results:

Participant recruitment and data collection are anticipated to occur between July 1 and July 31, 2026, or until the target sample of 384 participants is reached. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses will follow data collection. Study findings and knowledge mobilization outputs are expected to be disseminated in 2027.

Conclusions:

This research contributes to the limited evidence base on disability-centred virtual care technology for women living with MS and generates practice recommendations that will promote accessible virtual care technologies. In doing so, it will support the access and use of digital health services and improve the health and well-being of women living with MS in Canada.