How do adults make sense of which treatment to commence for their MS?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of how adults make sense of which disease modifying treatment to commence for their relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
IRAS ID
195006
Contact name
Gina Carey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that affects over 100,000 people living in the UK. It is the most common cause of disability in people of working and child-bearing age and affects around two and a half times as many women as men. Currently there is no cure for MS, therefore management focuses on maximising function and reducing relapses and disease progression. This may include the use of disease modifying treatments (DMTs) which are licensed for those diagnosed with one form of MS called ‘relapsing remitting MS’. However, some of the more effective DMTs are associated with risks of serious side effects including a potentially life threatening brain condition, which faces patients with difficult decisions about which treatment to commence. This study will explore the experience of consenting participants who have decided to commence one of the licensed DMTs for the first time, with the aim of exploring how they made sense of this decision. Participants will be selected from those under the care of the regional MS specialist service at Salford Royal Hospital Trust. Each participant will be invited to take part in one semi-structured interview. The information gained will be used to develop recommendations for future clinical practice to support communication with patients during their initial consultation with the MS specialist neurologist and throughout their DMT decision making process.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0122
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion