Concordance Between Persons with Multiple Sclerosis and Treating Physician on Medication Effects and Health Status

Abstract

Efrat Neter,1 Lea Glass-Marmor,2 Loren Haiien,2 Ariel Miller2,3 1Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emeq Hefer, Israel; 2Multiple Sclerosis Center & Department of Neurology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; 3Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelCorrespondence: Efrat NeterDepartment of Behavioral Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, 3 Bait, Emeq Hefer, 4025000, IsraelTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: As the number of treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS) has expanded, alignment between physician and patient on effects of medication has emerged as important for medication persistence/discontinuation.Objective: To evaluate physician–patient agreement levels on medication effect and health status.Methods: Persons with MS (PwMS) (n=71) participated in a cross-sectional study collecting their satisfaction (using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication), intention to dis/continue treatment and global health perception; physicians assessed response to medication and global health status.Results: Concordance between PwMS’ assessment of medication effectiveness and physician’s assessment on response to medication, health status and EDSS were rs= 0.50, rs= 0.57 and rs= − 0.58, respectively.Conclusion: The significant concordance attests to physician–patient effective communication and may contribute to improved medication adherence.Keywords: concordance, disease-modifying therapy, patient-centered approach, multiple sclerosis, patient-reported outcomes, participatory medicine

Keywords

• concordance
• disease modifying therapy
• multiple sclerosis
• patient reported outcomes
• patient-centered approach
• participatory medicine.