Table 2 Demographic characteristics of the participants in the intervention group 1 (patient-centered), intervention group 2 (family-centered) and control group

Gender

Male

(30.4) 14

(27.7) 13

(31.9) 15

0.90

Female

(69.6) 32

(72.3) 34

(68.1) 32

Age (years)

22–29

(45.65) 21

(48.94) 23

(25.53) 12

3.16

30–34

(21.74) 10

(31.91) 15

(38.30) 18

35–40

(26.09) 12

(12.77) 6

(19.15) 9

40 and more

(6.52) 3

(6.38) 3

(17.02) 8

Marital status

Single

(5) 20

(51.1) 24

(44.7) 21

0.88

Married

(45.7) 21

(36.2) 17

(40.4) 19

Divorced and deceased wife

(10.8) 5

(12.7) 6

(14.9) 7

Education level

Below high school

(26.1) 12

(25.5) 12

(23.4) 11

0.69

High school Diploma

(45.7) 21

(34) 16

(36.2) 17

University education

(28.3) 13

(40.4) 19

(40.4) 19

Number of children

One

(26.9) 7

(21.7) 5

(26.9) 7

0.54

Two

(69.2) 18

(60.9) 14

(57.7) 15

Three

(3.8) 1

(17.4) 4

(15.4) 4

Occupation

Laborer

(2.2) 1

(3.4) 2

(10.6) 5

0.36

Office worker

(6.5) 3

(12.8) 6

(17) 8

Housewife

(34.8) 16

(23.4) 11

(29.8) 14

Unemployed

(54.3) 25

(57.3) 27

(42.6) 20

Other jobs

(2.2) 1

(2.1) 1

(0) 0

Income level

It is not enough

(56.5) 26

(48.9) 23

(53.2) 25

0.76

It is enough to some extent

(43.5) 20

(51.1) 24

(46.8) 22

Type of support

Insurance

(30.4) 14

(36.2) 17

(36.2) 17

0.81

Emdad Committee

(2.2) 1

(0) 0

(0) 0

Welfare

(4.3) 2

(8.5) 4

(6.4) 3

Family

(60.9) 28

(51.1) 24

(57.4) 27

Others

(2.2) 1

(4.2) 2

(0) 0

Duration of disease

5 years and less

(67.4) 31

(76.6) 36

(70.2) 33

0.29

6–10 years

(23.9) 11

(23.4) 11

(20.5) 12

More than 10

(8.9) 4

(0) 0

(4.3) 2

Number of disease recurrence

No recurrence

(34.8) 16

(23.4) 11

(48.9) 23

0.12

Once

(43.5) 20

(51.1) 24

(25.5) 12

Twice

(15.2) 7

(10.6) 5

(14.9) 7

More than twice

(6.5) 3

(14.9) 7

(10.6) 5

Number of hospitalization

No hospitalization

(28.3) 13

(19.1) 9

(6.4) 3

0.07

Once

(37) 17

(23.4) 11

(42.6) 20

Twice

(19.6) 9

(31.9) 15

(29.8) 14

More than twice

(15.2) 7

(25.5) 12

(21.3) 10

First symptom of the disease

Visual impairment

(67.4) 31

(68.1) 32

(78.7) 37

0.47

Urinary sphincter disorder

(2.2) 1

(0) 0

(0) 0

Motor disorder

(3.4) 2

(6.4) 3

(0) 0

Sensory disorder

(26.1) 12

(25.5) 12

(21.3) 10

Main problem

Fatigue

Yes

(43.5) 20

(38.3) 18

(19.1) 9

0.032

No

(56.5) 26

(61.7) 29

(80.9) 38

Weakness

Yes

(54.3) 25

(34) 16

(17) 8

0.001

No

(45.7) 21

(66) 31

(83) 39

Muscle stiffness

Yes

(8.7) 4

(4.3) 2

(0) 0

0.001

No

(91.3) 42

(95.7) 45

(100) 47

Visual impairment

Yes

(10.9) 5

(8.5) 4

(42.6) 20

0.085

No

(89.1) 41

(91.5) 43

(42.6) 27

Lack of balance

Yes

(45.7) 21

(19.1) 9

(21.3) 10

0.007

No

(54.3) 25

(80.9) 38

(78.7) 37

Others

Yes

(8.7) 5

(0) 0

(0) 0

0.01

No

(91.3) 41

(100) 47

(100) 47

Other diseases

Yes

(10.9)

(8.5) 4

(6.4) 3

0.70

No

(89.1) 41

(91.5) 43

(93.6) 44

Comorbidity

High blood pressure

Yes

(40) 2

(50) 2

(33.3) 1

0.90

No

(60) 3

(50) 2

(66.7) 2

Diabetes

Yes

(40) 2

(25) 1

(66.7) 2

0.61

No

(60) 3

(75) 3

(33.3) 1

Pneumonia

Yes

(20) 1

(25) 1

(33.3) 1

0.69

No

(80) 4

(75) 3

(66.7) 2

Varicose veins

Yes

(20) 1

(0) 0

(0) 0

0.29

No

(80) 4

(100) 8

(100) 3

Breathing problem

Yes

(0) 0

(25) 1

(100) 3

0.33

No

(100) 5

(75) 3

(0) 0