What Are the Participants’ Perspectives of Taking Melatonin for the Treatment of Nocturia in Multiple Sclerosis? A Qualitative Study Embedded within a Double-Blind RCT

Box 1

Topic guide for qualitative interviews.

MeNiMS interview schedule 06/12

 (1) Explore the patient and partner’s perspective of nocturia associated with progressive MS.

 (2) Explore perceptions of the intervention on nocturia and associated quality of life impact from the patient

and partner’s perspective.

Intervention exploration

 (i) Describe experience of nocturia/waking at night to urinate before this trial

  (a) How often?

  (b) How do you feel about it?

  (c) What impact does this have on day-to-day life?

 (ii) How have these symptoms been during this trial?

 (iii) What has your sleep experience been like during the trial?

 (iv) Did you notice any differences between the first period and the second period of medication?

 (v) What about the period in between when you were not taking any trial medication?

 (vi) What have been the main advantages of taking the study medication?

 (vii) What have been the main disadvantages of taking the study medication? Did you notice any side-effects at all?

Questions for partners:

Could you talk a bit how your partner’s nocturia impacts on your sleeping?

And your lifestyle?

And during the course of the trial how has it been for you?