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. 2014 Jul 4;13(3):160-7.

Knowledge and attitude assessment of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients receiving interferon beta

Roya Abolfazli  1 , Azam Elyasi  2 , Mohammad Reza Javadi  2 , Kheirollah Gholami  2 , Hassan Torkamandi  3 , Mohammad Amir-Shahkarami  4 , Masoud Etemadifar  5 , Zahra Nasr  6
Affiliations

Knowledge and attitude assessment of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients receiving interferon beta

Roya Abolfazli et al. Iran J Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients permanently confronted with serious challenges from treatment regimen. Developing a new questionnaire in MS management, through evaluation of patients' perspectives and knowledge regarding treatment will help to identify the sources of tension, and to build a therapeutic alliance. We purposed to describe MS patients' understanding of their treatments.

Methods: About 425 completed and returned questionnaire were assessed of a total of 500 recruited MS patients. The knowledge of correct using interferon-beta (IFN-β) and attitude toward medical care were assessed using self-reported questionnaires consisted of 25 items with validity of multidisciplinary panel and pre-testing on 20 patients.

Results: Knowledge about IFN-β therapy was very low; however, attitude was at a high level. Female patients, self-injection ability, higher educational level, normal functional status, delay from the start of diagnostic workup to definite diagnosis, and being younger were related to a higher level of knowledge. Attitude was associated with functional status, family history of disease and the summary of knowledge variable.

Conclusion: Developing educational interventions are needed for MS patients regarding to their low levels of knowledge.

Keywords: Attitude; Interferon-Beta; Internal Consistency; Knowledge; Multiple Sclerosis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of patients’ utilization of available information source
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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