Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 May 7:15:927-937.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S306132. eCollection 2021.

Innovative Medical Technology and the Treatment Decision-Making Process in Multiple Sclerosis: A Focus Group Study to Examine Patient Perspectives

L A Visser  1 , M De Mul  2 , W K Redekop  1
Affiliations

Innovative Medical Technology and the Treatment Decision-Making Process in Multiple Sclerosis: A Focus Group Study to Examine Patient Perspectives

L A Visser et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Background: Disease-modifying therapies are given to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce disease progression and relapse frequency. Current modes of administration include oral, injectable and infusion therapy and the treatment decision-making process is complex. A novel mode of treatment administration, an implantable device, is currently under development, yet patient attitudes about the device are unknown. The aim of this study was 1) to understand the treatment decision-making process from the patient perspective and 2) to explore the possible acceptance of an implant to treat MS.

Methods: Focus groups with people with MS were conducted in the Netherlands. Three topics were addressed: the treatment decision-making process, the current treatment landscape, and attitudes about the implantable device. All focus groups were recorded and transcribed and data were analyzed by raw data coding and creating themes. An online survey was conducted in the Netherlands to quantify interest in an implant.

Results: Two focus group sessions were held (n=16 participants) and n=93 persons filled out the survey. The main theme that emerged was the constant uncertainty persons with MS face throughout their disease course and during treatment decisions (when to start, stop, continue or switch treatment). Patients were generally positive towards the implant but felt that efficacy and safety should be guaranteed.

Conclusion: People with MS want some form of control over their disease and treatment course. New medical technologies, such as an implant, may enhance the treatment landscape and with caution we postulate that it may be accepted by patients as a new mode of administration, though further research is needed. For medical technologies to be successful, patients should be engaged early on in the design process.

Keywords: decision-making process; medical technology; multiple sclerosis; patient perspective.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Dr W K Redekop report grants from European Union, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. The European Multiple Sclerosis Platform. MS facts. MS Facts. Available from: http://www.emsp.org/about-ms/. Accessed April29, 2021.
    1. Brownlee WJ, Hardy TA, Fazekas F, Miller DH. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: progress and challenges. Lancet. 2017;389:1336–1346. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30959-X - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ingwersen J, Aktas O, Hartung HP. Advances in and algorithms for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Neurotherapeutics. 2016;13:47–57. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0412-4 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fogarty E, Schmitz S, Tubridy N, Walsh C, Barry M. Comparative efficacy of disease-modifying therapies for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2016;9:23–30. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2016.06.001 - DOI - PubMed
    1. The Optogenerapy Consortium. Optogenerapy. Available from: https://optogenerapy.eu/about-optogenerapy/. Accessed April29, 2021.

LinkOut - more resources