Title

Evaluation of a Novel Preference Assessment Tool for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

UMMS Affiliation

UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine; Department of Neurology

Publication Date

2018-11-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Behavioral Medicine | Health Communication | Health Services Administration | Immune System Diseases | Nervous System Diseases

Abstract

Background: We developed a preference assessment tool to help assess patient goals, values, and preferences for multiple sclerosis (MS) management. All preference items in the tool were generated by people with MS. The aim of this study was to evaluate this tool in a national sample of people with MS.

Methods: English-speaking patients with MS aged 21 to 75 years with access to the internet were recruited. Participants completed the preference tool online, which included separate modules assessing three core preference areas: treatment goals, preferences for attributes of disease-modifying therapies, and factors influencing a change in treatment. The tool generated a summary of participants' treatment goals and preferences. Immediately after viewing the summary, participants were asked to evaluate the tool. Rankings of preference domains were compared with rankings obtained in another study.

Results: In 135 people with MS who completed the tool and evaluation, the highest ranked goal was brain health (memory, thinking, brain), followed by disability concerns (walking, strength, vision). Rankings were highly similar to those in the referent study. Nearly all participants reported that the tool helped them understand their goals and priorities regarding MS and that the summary appropriately reflected what is important to them. Most participants (87%) wanted to discuss their treatment goals and priorities with their clinician.

Conclusions: This preference assessment tool successfully captured patients' goals, values, and preferences for MS treatment and could potentially be used to help patients communicate their preferences to their clinician.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis, Patient preference, Shared decision making, Treatment goals, Values clarification

DOI of Published Version

10.7224/1537-2073.2017-021

Source

Int J MS Care. 2018 Nov-Dec;20(6):260-267. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2017-021. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

International journal of MS care

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

30568563

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