Early Interferon Beta Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis: Nursing Care Implications of the BENEFIT Study

Preferences for Multiple Sclerosis Treatments: Using a Discrete-Choice Experiment to Examine Differences Across Subgroups of US Patients

BACKGROUND

The growing number of treatments for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) provides opportunities to consider patient preferences in treatment decisions.

METHODS

We designed a Web-based, discrete-choice experiment survey to analyze treatment preferences in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The survey presented hypothetical MS treatments defined by six attributes: risk of MS progression, time between relapses, risk of serious infection, treatment-related flu-like symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms, and route and frequency of administration. Preference weights estimated with random-parameters logit were used to calculate importance scores and preference shares among three pairs of subsamples.

RESULTS

Patients with a self-reported physician diagnosis of RRMS (N = 301) completed the survey: 56% rated their disability level as normal or mild; 43% currently used a self-injectable treatment. Respondents with normal or mild disability levels placed greater weight on avoiding injections with flu-like symptoms and risk of progression, whereas patients with worse disability placed greater weight on reducing risk of progression and risk of serious infection. Patients taking injectables placed the most weight on risk of progression and risk of serious infection, whereas respondents not taking injectables placed the most weight on route and frequency of administration. Differences in preferences between subgroups were significant (P < .05). The presence of common adverse events associated with daily pills and injectables altered predicted preferences for route of administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Preferences of patients with RRMS varied depending on current treatment and disability level, especially regarding mode of administration. Considering patient preferences for treatment features may lead to higher treatment satisfaction and adherence.

Impact of delayed diagnosis and treatment in clinically isolated syndrome and multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive inflammatory disease with several possible clinical courses; before the development of definite MS, some patients may have clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), which is a single attack of neurological symptoms caused by inflammation or demyelination. Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) have been extensively used for the management of MS, resulting in improvements in the clinical presentation and decreases in MS-associated neurological damage. Earlier initiation of DMT in the course of MS is associated with better outcomes. For patients with CIS, initiation of interferon-beta or glatiramer acetate treatment after an initial clinical event indicative of MS has been associated with delays in the progression to clinically definite MS as well as improvements in measures of neurological damage via magnetic resonance imaging. The initiation of treatment for patients with CIS should be considered, and nurses play a vital role in educating patients about the risks of conversion to MS and the benefits of early DMT.

Enhancing adherence through education

The treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has advanced greatly since the introduction of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in the early 1990s. Although the DMTs have exhibited significant efficacy in relapsing-remitting MS and other forms of the disease, the degree of benefit depends heavily on patient adherence to recommended regimens. This article addresses some of the most pressing areas of unmet need in educating advanced-practice nurses, neurologists, patients, and support care partners regarding strategies that can overcome obstacles to adherence. The observations presented here are based on clinical experience with real-life cognitive, psychosocial, and cultural impediments to adherence. The article also explores the ways in which adherence may be affected by emerging therapies for MS (such as oral agents) as well as the educational needs that will arise with the further evolution of MS care.

Assessment of new application system in Portuguese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the satisfaction level of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with interferon beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b, Betaferon*) using a newly developed application system compared to their currently used application system.

METHODS

A survey was conducted in Portugal in patients treated with IFNbeta-1b for relapsing-remitting MS with the Betaject or Betaject Lite autoinjector. Nurses demonstrated the new application system and supervised the first injection. Patients rated their overall satisfaction retrospectively with their current application system and prospectively after the first, the seventh and the 15th injection with the newly developed application system. Additionally, the ease of use was evaluated for both application systems using a questionnaire consisting of 13 questions. Responses were compiled and descriptive analyses performed.

RESULTS

A total of 249 patients evaluated the current and the new system after the first, 235 after the seventh and 174 after the 15th injection. The satisfaction level was high with the current system (70.3%, 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied'). However, compared with the current system, more patients were either 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' (98%) with the new system after first injection. Only a minority of patients rated 'somewhat satisfied': 2.0% after the first, 8.6% after the seventh, and 4.4% after the 15th injection. Increased overall satisfaction level ('satisfied' or 'very satisfied') with the newly developed system was maintained over time (98% - first, 90.5% - seventh, 93.8% - 15th injection). The thinner, pre-attached 30-gauge needle and the visual signalling of injection completion were among the changes considered as strong improvements to the new system by up to 80.3% of patients.

LIMITATION

Retrospective analysis of current system.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey documented patient satisfaction with different application systems of IFNbeta-1b. The increased satisfaction with the new application system indicates an improvement to the currently used injection system, which may contribute to further advancement in adherence and consequently higher clinical efficacy of treatment.