Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33796329›Full record

ArticleMultiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical

CoachMS, an innovative closed-loop, interdisciplinary platform to monitor and proactively treat MS symptoms: A pilot study.

Valerie J Block, Arpita Gopal, William Rowles, Chu -Yueh, Jeffrey M Gelfand, Riley Bove

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Actionable Wearables Data for the Neurology Clinic: A Proof-of-Concept Tool.Annals of clinical and translational neurology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Valerie J BlockUCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6199-5484
Arpita GopalDepartment of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
William RowlesUCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Chu -YuehUCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Jeffrey M GelfandUCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Riley BoveUCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2034-8800

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are numerous challenges to treating co-occurring symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS).

objectiveTo pilot the feasibility of a novel symptom management platform, CoachMS, to monitor MS symptoms (bladder function, ambulation, and mood: BAM) and respond to changes in real-time.

methodsIn this 12-week randomized controlled pilot trial, participants' symptoms were monitored using weekly questionnaires and remote ambulatory monitoring (Fitbit Flex2®). Behavioral change principles used included shared goal setting at 2 weeks. Between weeks 2-12, the CoachMS group received targeted contact and interventions if symptoms worsened; the control group were treated through usual clinic practice. Our outcomes were feasibility (retention, adherence and acceptability; primary) and proportion of recommended treatments pursued (secondary); efficacy was explored.

resultsOf 21 participants enrolled, 13 (62%) completed the study; protocol adherence was excellent. CoachMS participants demonstrated greater follow-through with clinical recommendations than controls (OR 9.3, 95% CI (0.9, 97.6)). As a cohort, each BAM symptom tended to improve. Suicidality was detected in one control participant, resulting in urgent evaluation and hospitalization.

conclusionsThe innovative CoachMS platform was feasible and acceptable in this cohort with baseline BAM symptoms. It could represent an accessible, cost-effective tool to monitor MS symptoms in real-time; a larger trial is planned.

Indexed as

clinical trialdigital healthMultiple sclerosisquality of liferehabilitationsymptomatic treatment

Identifiers

PMID33796329
PMCPMC7970691

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.