Browsing by Author "Ertekin, Ozge"

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Age-Related Differences in E-Health Literacy in People with Multiple Sclerosis
(Sage Publications Ltd, 2025) Yavas, Ipek; Karakas, Hilal; Celik, Rabia Gokcen Gozubatik; Cansiz, Melek; Ertekin, Ozge; Kahraman, Turhan
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 3
Balance and Gait Impairment in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis With the Absence of Clinical Disability
(Turkish Neurological Soc, 2020) Ayan, Hatice; Ertekin, Ozge; Kahraman, Turhan; Özakbaş, Serkan
Objective: Impaired balance is one of the most important risk factors for falls in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The aim was to evaluate balance and gait performance in pwMS with the absence of clinical disability (pwMS-AD) compared with pwMS with minimal disability (MD) and healthy controls (HC). Materials and Methods: Nineteen pwMS-AD were assessed using the Expanded Disability Status scale (EDSS) score <= 1.5, 16 pwMS-MD (2.0 <= EDSS <= 3.0), and 39 HC were assessed using a posturography. Limits of stability (LOS), postural stability (PS) and fall risk index tests were performed. The Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Brief-BESTest), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, timed 25 foot walk test (T25FW) and 12-Item MS walking scale (MSWS-12) were used. Results: Significant differences were observed between pwMS-AD and pwMS-MD in terms of PS (overall, anteroposterior, mediolateral), Brief-BESTest, T25FW, and MSWS-12 (p<0.05). The stability limits (overall, forward LOS score) of the pwMS-AD group decreased significantly compared with the HC (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference in mediolateral PS, fall risk, Brief-BESTest and T25FW scores (p<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the ABC scale score (p=0.543) between pwMS-AD and HC. Conclusion: The results showed that pwMS with the absence of clinical disability had better balance and gait performance than pwMS with minimal disability, but compared with HC, pwMS-AD have impaired balance and gait performance; however, subjective confidence in balance is not significantly different. PwMSAD should be assessed regularly for the early detection of impaired balance and fall risk, even if there are no reported problems related to balance and gait.
Cognitive Difficulties, Coping Strategies and Barriers to Participation in Cognitive Rehabilitation in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Study Across Different Disability Levels
(Sage Publications Ltd, 2025) Karakas, Hilal; Yavas, Ipek; Gokcen, Rabia; Celik, Gozubatik; Cansiz, Melek; Ertekin, Ozge; Kahraman, Turhan
Impact of Early Treatment Modification on Long-Term Outcomes in Treatment-Naive Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Adverse Reactions and Compliance Challenges
(Sage Publications Ltd, 2024) Samadzade, Ulvi; Baba, Cavid; Simsek, Yasemin; Unal, Gozde Deniz; Kara, Irem; Ertekin, Ozge; Ozakbas, Serkan
Prevalence and Correlates of Fear of Falling in People with Multiple Sclerosis Exhibiting No to Mild Disability
(Sage Publications Ltd, 2024) Abasiyanik, Zuhal; Ertekin, Ozge; Kara, Tugce; Kahraman, Turhan; Ozakbas, Serkan
Six-Spot Step Test Under Three Different Task Conditions To Assess Dual-Task Ability in People With Multiple Sclerosis
(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025) Ertekin, Ozge; Abasiyanik, Zuhal; Kahraman, Turhan; Dastan, Seda; Ozakbas, Serkan
Background: The Six-Spot Step Test (SSST) is a valid measure to assess the ability of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) to maintain balance whilst challenging stability during walking. This study aimed to compare the performance of three different SSST conditions in pwMS and healthy controls (HC) and to explore whether incorporating cognitive tasks into the SSST improves its discriminative capacity by increasing cognitive load. Methods: Fifty-two pwMS (median EDSS = 1.75) and 19 HC were recruited. Participants performed the SSST under three different task conditions: conventional SSST, SSST with word-list generation task (WLG), and SSST with the serial-7 backward task. The dual-task cost (DTC) was calculated for two cognitive task conditions. Results: There was a significant difference across different SSST conditions in both groups. There was also significant condition*group interaction [F (2,132) = 3.69, p = 0.028, eta(2) = 0.053]. PwMS completed all SSST conditions in a longer duration compared to HC. The DTC of SSST with backward and WLG tasks was greater in the MS group than in HC. However, there was no significant differences in the number of correct answers during the dual-task conditions between pwMS and HC. All three conditions showed excellent discriminative ability between pwMS and HC (Area Under Curve value > 0.8). Significance: The SSST had the ability to discriminate between pwMS and HC in both conventional method and with secondary cognitive task. The SSST could be used to evaluate early walking and dual-task deficits even in pwMS with mild disability for future research and clinical practice.
Sustained Attention and Gait Pattern Changes During the 6-Minute Walk Test in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
(Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2025) Abasiyanik, Zuhal; Kahraman, Turhan; Veldkamp, Renee; Ertekin, Ozge; Kalron, Alon; Ozakbas, Serkan; Feys, Peter
Background and purpose: It is unknown whether persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) can retain sustained attention and gait quality during long-distance walking tests. This study aimed to investigate changes in sustained attention and gait parameters during prolonged walking in pwMS with different levels of disability and healthy controls (HCs) and correlations of these changes with self-reported daily life difficulties. Methods: The 6-Minute Walk Test was performed with an auditory sustained attention task while wearing inertial measurement sensors. Participants were asked to respond verbally as quickly as possible to randomly presented auditory stimuli during 6 minutes of walking. The accuracy of answers, average reaction time, and gait parameters per minute were determined. Results: Thirty pwMS with mild disability (Expanded Disease Status Scale [EDSS] < 4.0), 16 pwMS with moderate-to-severe disability (EDSS 4.0 to 6.5), and 27 age-gender matched HCs were included. A significant group-by-time interaction effect as found for reactions times, which increased in mild and moderate-to-severe disability groups but not in HCs. Gait parameters deteriorated over time in all groups, but no significant group-by-time interaction was found. The decrease in sustained attention was not related to changes in gait or clinical outcomes, while deterioration in gait parameters was associated with perceived walking disability and dual-task difficulties in daily life. Discussion and Conclusions: Sustained attention during walking declined over time in pwMS, but not in HCs. However, gait parameters deteriorated in all groups. Worsening gait during simultaneous cognitive task execution may contribute to walking and dual-task difficulties in pwMS.
Validation of the Spinal Cord Injury-Falls Concern Scale in Wheelchair Users With Multiple Sclerosis
(Sage Publications Ltd, 2025) Abasiyanik, Zuhal; Unal, Gozde Deniz; Kahraman, Turhan; Ertekin, Ozge; Ozakbas, Serkan