Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany
Background: As patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) require lifelong treatment, optimization of therapy with respect to efficacy and safety is needed to limit long-term disease progression. Patients with MS also need a range of health-related services. Satisfaction with these as well as treatment i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1756285617748845 |
| _version_ | 1819057070767341568 |
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| author | Veit Becker Volker Heeschen Katrin Schuh Heinke Schieb Tjalf Ziemssen |
| author_facet | Veit Becker Volker Heeschen Katrin Schuh Heinke Schieb Tjalf Ziemssen |
| author_sort | Veit Becker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: As patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) require lifelong treatment, optimization of therapy with respect to efficacy and safety is needed to limit long-term disease progression. Patients with MS also need a range of health-related services. Satisfaction with these as well as treatment is clinically relevant because satisfied patients are more likely to adhere to therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the status of patient satisfaction and of healthcare services in 70 specialized MS centres in Germany. Methods: In 2011, patients with MS responded to a questionnaire, which solicited clinical and demographic information, as well as patients’ perceptions of their overall situation and their satisfaction with treatment. Results: Of 2791 patients surveyed, 81.9% had relapsing-remitting MS with mild disability [mean (standard deviation) Expanded Disability Status Scale score: 2.6 (1.8)]. Disease activity data were collected from 2205 patients, of whom 57.6% had remained relapse-free during the preceding 12 months. However, 38.9% had experienced one or more relapses, most of whom (67.3%) while receiving immunomodulatory treatment. About one-third of the patients indicated that they were more dissatisfied with their overall situation compared with the time before diagnosis. However, many patients (58.3%) were satisfied with their existing medication. Overall, 72.8% of patients would prefer oral to injectable treatments, assuming there was no difference in their efficacy. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients experienced breakthrough disease on treatment and may potentially benefit from a change of therapy. Although largely satisfied with treatment, most patients with MS would choose oral over injectable treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:33:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8dff7a3844e24a2794b862d9bc61e77a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-2864 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:33:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-8dff7a3844e24a2794b862d9bc61e77a2022-12-21T19:02:15ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders1756-28642018-01-011110.1177/1756285617748845Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in GermanyVeit BeckerVolker HeeschenKatrin SchuhHeinke SchiebTjalf ZiemssenBackground: As patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) require lifelong treatment, optimization of therapy with respect to efficacy and safety is needed to limit long-term disease progression. Patients with MS also need a range of health-related services. Satisfaction with these as well as treatment is clinically relevant because satisfied patients are more likely to adhere to therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the status of patient satisfaction and of healthcare services in 70 specialized MS centres in Germany. Methods: In 2011, patients with MS responded to a questionnaire, which solicited clinical and demographic information, as well as patients’ perceptions of their overall situation and their satisfaction with treatment. Results: Of 2791 patients surveyed, 81.9% had relapsing-remitting MS with mild disability [mean (standard deviation) Expanded Disability Status Scale score: 2.6 (1.8)]. Disease activity data were collected from 2205 patients, of whom 57.6% had remained relapse-free during the preceding 12 months. However, 38.9% had experienced one or more relapses, most of whom (67.3%) while receiving immunomodulatory treatment. About one-third of the patients indicated that they were more dissatisfied with their overall situation compared with the time before diagnosis. However, many patients (58.3%) were satisfied with their existing medication. Overall, 72.8% of patients would prefer oral to injectable treatments, assuming there was no difference in their efficacy. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients experienced breakthrough disease on treatment and may potentially benefit from a change of therapy. Although largely satisfied with treatment, most patients with MS would choose oral over injectable treatments.https://doi.org/10.1177/1756285617748845 |
| spellingShingle | Veit Becker Volker Heeschen Katrin Schuh Heinke Schieb Tjalf Ziemssen Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| title | Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany |
| title_full | Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany |
| title_short | Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany |
| title_sort | patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in germany |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1756285617748845 |
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