https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4868-6836
Abstract
Background
During long-term multiple sclerosis therapy, patient satisfaction with received treatment has considerable impact on treatment outcomes. Here we report the results of a non-interventional real-world study that mapped the treatment patterns of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) and assessed treatment satisfaction with DMT.
Patients and Methods
The SKARLET study was a non-interventional, cross-sectional study in Slovakia running from May 2016 to March 2017. Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis on DMT for ≥3 months and ≤2 years (per local labelling) from 10 multiple sclerosis centers across Slovakia were included. The primary objective was to collect the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version 9 (TSQM 9) score regarding perceived effectiveness, convenience and overall satisfaction with DMT.
Results
The following TSQM 9 scores (mean; 95% confidence interval) were reported from 415 patients: convenience (75.05; 73.49–76.61), effectiveness (68.15; 66.56–69.75) and global satisfaction scale (66.94; 65.26–68.62). All three parameters of the TSQM 9 were analyzed by the route of DMT administration, with infusions best rated for effectiveness and global satisfaction in comparison to oral dosage and injections. For convenience, however, oral dosage forms were appraised highly (82.66; 80.59–84.73) followed by infusions (74.40; 70.12–78.69), while injections were rated as the worst (66.92; 64.81–69.04). The difference of TSQM 9 scores according to the route of DMT administration is statistically significant for convenience (p < 0.001) and global satisfaction (p = 0.004), but not for effectiveness (p = 0.185).
Conclusion
In the present study, it was confirmed that patients find oral DMTs as most convenient; however, the infusion form of treatment outweighs oral DMTs in global satisfaction and effectiveness. The differences of TSQM 9 scores among DMT dosage forms were significant for convenience and global satisfaction. In conclusion, the results of this detailed survey increase our understanding of RRMS patient population characteristics and patient satisfaction with DMT treatment.
Acknowledgments
The authors had unrestricted access to study data, were involved in the evaluation and interpretation of the study results and reviewing and approval of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank all study teams for their devotion and effort during participation in the SKARLET study at the specialized MS centers in: Nemocnica Staré Mesto, Bratislava; Martin; Nitra; Nemocnica Ružinov, Bratislava; Nemocnica akad. L. Dérera, Bratislava; Trnava; Banska Bystrica; Ružomberok; Trenčín and Nemocnica svätého Michala, Bratislava.
Disclosure
Peter Turčáni is a member of Advisory Boards in Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Teva and Sanofi Genzyme. He also received honoraria for lectures and research projects from Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer, Ebewe, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lundbeck, Merck, Mundipharma, Novartis, Novonordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Servier and Teva. Jana Mašková is an employee of NEOX Clinical Research – clinical research organization that provided the following services funded by the sponsor: administration, data management, site monitoring, statistical analyses and medical writing. Jozef Húska is an employee of Sanofi-aventis Slovakia. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.