ArticlePloS one2021
How is and how should healthcare for people with multiple sclerosis in Germany be designed?-The rationale and protocol for the mixed-methods study Multiple Sclerosis-Patient-Oriented Care in Lower Saxony (MS-PoV).
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Long-term cross sectoral care and case management for people with severe multiple sclerosis and their caregivers - impact on dimensions of life.BMC health services research · 2026Trial
- Clinical, demographic, and pharmacological predictors of medication adherence to disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis: a multidimensional analysis of merged survey and claims data.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2026Article
- "So at least now I know how to deal with things myself, what I can do if it gets really bad again"-experiences with a long-term cross-sectoral advocacy care and case management for severe multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Synchronous online focus groups in health research: application and further development of methodology based on experiences from two mixed-methods research projects.BMC research notes · 2023Article
- Subgroup analyses and patterns of multiple sclerosis health service utilisation: A cluster analysis.Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinicalArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
17 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in Europe, often causing severe physical, cognitive and emotional impairments. Currently, it is unclear whether the healthcare provisions of people with MS (PwMS) are in line with the recommendations for treatment based on guidelines or patients' needs. The main objectives of the study are as follows: (a) to investigate how well PwMS are treated; and (b) to develop a needs-oriented, patient-centred care model.
methodsThis mixed-methods study focuses on adult PwMS living in Lower Saxony, a federal state in Germany. The qualitative study comprises focus groups with PwMS, physicians and people involved in the healthcare process as well as a future workshop. The quantitative study comprises a cross-sectional online survey and addresses the patient-relevant outcomes and needs, as previously determined by literature searches and focus groups. It will be administered to all PwMS who are insured by the statutory health insurance company involved in the project (n~7,000). The survey data will be linked to the longitudinal secondary data from the statutory health insurance company and data from the German MS registry where available. The linked and single data sources will be statistically analysed. DISCUSSION: By comprehensively comparing the current healthcare provisions with the needs and requirements of PwMS, the strengths and weaknesses of the overall healthcare process and provision of assistive devices can be identified. The barriers and facilitators of the health service providers and their impact on daily life will be explored (qualitative analyses). Reliable recommendations for improvements will be given based on a study population drawn from the largest statutory health insurance company in Lower Saxony (quantitative analyses). However, the inherent advantages and limitations of the qualitative and quantitative research approaches need to be considered.
trial registrationThe study is registered at German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00021741.
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