Baba Farid University Nursing Journal

As there is no known cure for myasthenia gravis, provision of information is very essential to decrease the exacerbations and to improve the self-care ability and quality of life of patients living with myasthenia gravis.

Present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of patients with myasthenia gravis, their caregivers and patients with other neurological disorders in view of developing an information material on various aspects of myasthenia gravis.

A quantitative research approach was used to carry out comparative cross-sectional study design on 300 subjects including 100 patients with myasthenia gravis, 100 caregivers of patients with myasthenia gravis and 100 patients who are visiting the hospital for other neurological disorders.

The mean knowledge score was 39.87±ll.75, 40.82±ll.34 and 1.78± 8.79 out of 67 in patients with myasthenia gravis, their caregivers and patients with other neurological disorders respectively. Both, patients with myasthenia and their caregivers had minimum knowledge in the domain of treatment modalities and maximum knowledge regarding symptoms. Patients with myasthenia and their caregivers were found to have better knowledge as compared to patients with other neurological conditions. It was also found that patients with myasthenia and their caregivers with higher education had significantly better knowledge.

Knowledge regarding myasthenia gravis is not adequate among patients with myasthenia gravis, their caregivers and patients with other neurological diseases. Patients with other neurological diseases had very poor knowledge on myasthenia gravis. Patients and caregiver with higher education were found to have better knowledge. Outcome of patients can be improved by providing structured informational material on myasthenia gravis. Nurses ’role is vital in enhancing the home management practices ofpatients with myasthenia gravis.