The development of health educational programs and patient self-care allows the growth of health literacy and a conscious decision-making by the patients.

Since MS is a chronic, progressive and disabling disease, the health literacy is a key factor to empower the patients and the family/care-giver, so they can manage the disease and adopt the best behaviors to become independent and improve their QoL.

To build Learning Maps that improve the health literacy among people living with MS (patient or family) and implement the maps in group sessions.

The authors draw the project with a cross-function team, then conducted a bibliographic research followed by brainstorming meeting evolving the team members. By this, the Learning Maps were created together with the support material. Finally, the Maps were tested in different moments, first with nurse students and then in 4 moments with patients with MS.

There is a portfolio of 4 Learning Maps with different subjects – disease management, healthy lifestyle, symptoms management and therapeutical management – each one has a user handbook, activity cards and teaching files with information to help the facilitators.

We gathered different feedbacks. The nurses said things like “They seem light, attractive and interactive, helping to think about the subjects and get knowledge about it”. The patients considered that “it help us to easily share our own experience, to clarify any wrong ideas we have and get more information about MS”, “it encourage the talks around different subjects in an appealing way”, “it makes easier to share our feelings and fears” and “teach us how important it is to be aware of the disease progression”.

All the findings are aligned with the available scientific literature, which points out the benefits of the learning strategies focused on the active participation, reflection and discussion of the young adult, on matters that interest them.

This project already has the International Certificate by the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses, is ongoing in 7 hospitals.

The Learning Maps are a usefull tool to promote the Health Literacy and in the near future they will be available for digital meetings.