Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40707762›Full record

ArticleActa neurologica Belgica2025

Insufficient awareness of the disease and reproductive health issues in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Olivera Tamas, Nevena Veljancic, Marija Kovacevic, Nikola Veselinovic, Maja Budimkic, Nikola Momcilovic, Marko Andabaka, Sarlota Mesaros

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Article in Acta neurologica Belgica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

8 authors.

Olivera Tamas *Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nevena Veljancic *Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Marija KovacevicFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nikola VeselinovicNeurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Maja BudimkicNeurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nikola MomcilovicNeurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Marko AndabakaNeurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Sarlota MesarosNeurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. sharlotam@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that predominantly affects women of reproductive age. With ongoing therapeutic advances, ending common misconceptions related to the disease and pregnancy in MS is crucial for the adherence to MS treatment. The aim of our research was to assess the level of knowledge of MS as a disease in general, to estimate the awareness of reproductive issues in MS, and to evaluate the primary sources of information in persons with MS (PwMS) and persons without MS. MATERIAL AND

methodsThe study included female PwMS aged 18-49 years and male PwMS aged 18-65 years, who were matched with persons without MS of the same age, gender, and education. After obtaining informed consent, participants filled out an online questionnaire distributed via electronic mail between November 1st, 2022 and November 1st, 2023. The questionnaire consisted of a different statements regarding the clinical aspects of MS, pregnancy and reproductive health, primary source of information and subjective assessment of the knowledge.

resultsThe study included 410 PwMS and 400 persons without MS. The survey has shown higher levels of knowledge related to the disease in the PwMS group. Seven in ten PwMS disagreed with the false statement that all PwMS at some point lose the ability to walk, while 39.2% of persons without MS agreed. On the other hand, the most common answer, for all study participants, related to reproductive issues in MS was "I do not know". Over two-thirds of PwMS did not have an answer to the question related to the benefits of breastfeeding. The primary source of information for the PwMS group were neurologists (82.7%) and for persons without MS the Internet (54.4%). Persons with MS additionally received information from MS nurses. Both PwMS and persons without MS subjectively evaluated their level of knowledge as an inadequate (49.3% vs. 77.5%).

conclusionPeople with MS still have a low level of information concerning reproductive issues while a considerable number of respondents recognized a deficit of adequate information regarding MS. Availability and validity of information are key aspects to consider in the future. Improvements in access to verified information is needed with an emphasis on reproductive issues.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMultiple SclerosisReproductive HealthAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPregnancySurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAwarenessMultiple sclerosisPregnancySurvey

Identifiers

PMID40707762

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.