Abstract: P1241
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 32 Others
Background: Advances in MS research and treatment have engendered needs for new continuing education programs. Studies are lacking to describe MS education needs and outcomes among international neurologists.
Objective: To assess current MS education needs and outcomes of neurologists in Europe, South America, and the U.S.
Methods: Surveys were administered to neurologists (n = 1,380) before and after they participated in live accredited webinars or live regional workshops offered in England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, and the U.S. Held between 13 October 2016 and 19 February 2017, the educational programs were presented by esteemed MS specialists from each country. The survey items assessed knowledge about advances in research on MS pathophysiology, barriers to integrating new disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) into practice, and competence in applying current evidence to DMT decision-making.
Results: On the pre-activity surveys, only 18% of participants reported a good or excellent understanding of B- and T-cell roles in MS pathophysiology. Potential benefits of B-cell-targeted therapy for progressive MS were recognized by 43% of participants. The most commonly reported primary barriers to incorporating new DMTs in practice were cost and access constraints (59%) and limited long-term data on safety and effectiveness (35%). Across the 10 countries, most participants agreed or strongly agreed that early DMT use improves long-term outcomes; mean proportions of these responses ranged from 50% (Brazil) to 82% (Italy). On the post-activity surveys, there were significant increases in absolute proportions of neurologists
(1) with good or excellent understanding of B- and T-cell roles in MS pathophysiology (+29%; p< .001) and
(2) who recommended switching DMTs for patients with disability progression by EDSS (+20%, p< .001); lesion progression by MRI (+26%, p< .001); and transition to progressive MS (+27%; p< .001). The magnitude of these increases was similar across the 10 countries.
Conclusion: Among global neurologists, participation in continuing education activities significantly improved understanding of B- and T-cell roles in MS pathophysiology and competence in decision-making regarding new DMTs.
Disclosure:
Giancarlo Comi, MD: Consulting Services and/or Speaking Activities from Novartis, Teva, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck, Biogen, Roche, Almirall, Celgene, Forward Pharma, Excemed.
Edgardo Cristiano, MD, FAAN: Nothing to disclose.
Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, MD: Research Grants from TEVA and Biogen; Consulting Services: TEVA, Genzyme, Malinkrodt.
Gilles Edan, MD: Advisory Board or Panel: Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Roche; Grants/Research Support: Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme Sanofi, Merck, Roche, Teva.
Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD, FCP (Neurol., SA), FRCP, FRCPath: Advisory Board or Panel: AbbVie, Bayer-Schering Healthcare, Biogen, Canbex, Eisai, Elan, Fiveprime, GW Pharma, Genentech, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Ironwood, Merck, Merck-Serone, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Synthon BV, Teva, UCB Pharma, Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Emmanuelle Le Page, MD: Speaker/Consultant: Biogen Idec, Sanofi Genzyme, Merck Serone, Novartis, Teva, Roche; Grants from Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique (PHRC), La Ligue française contre la SEP, l'ARSEP, Teva.
Fred D Lublin, MD, FAAN, FANA: Sources of Funding for Research: Biogen Idec; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.; Teva Neuroscience; Genzyme; Sanofi; Celgene; Transparency Life Sciences; NMSS; Consulting Agreements/Advisory Boards/DSMB: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals; Biogen Idec; EMD Serono, Inc.; Novartis; Teva Neuroscience; Actelion; Sanofi/Genzyme; Acorda; Roche/Genentech; MedImmune; Receptos/Celgene; Forward Pharma; Akros; TG Therapeutics; AbbVie; Toyama; Amgen; Medday; Atara Biotherapeutics; Polypharma; Mapi Pharma; Coherus; Speaker: Genentech (non-promotional); Genzyme (non-promotional); Co-Chief Editor: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Aaron Miller, MD, FAAN: Consultant: Accordant Health Services (Caremark), Acorda, Alkermes, Biogen, EMD Serono (Merck Serono), Genzyme/Sanofi, Mallinckrodt (Questcor), Novartis, Roche/Genentech; Grants/Research Services: Biogen, Genzyme/Sanofi, Mallinckrodt (Questcor), Novartis, Roche/Genentech; Speaker's Bureau Promotional Education: Biogen Idec (unbranded disease awareness programs only), Roche/Genentech (unbranded programs only).
Per Soelberg Sørensen, MD, DMSc, FAAN: Scientific Advisory Boards, Steering Committees, or Independent Data Monitoring Boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, Teva, GlaxoSmithKline, medDay Pharmaceuticals, Forward Pharma, and has received Speaker Honoraria from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Teva, Genzyme, Novartis.
Jerry S Wolinsky, MD: Advisory Boards, Data Monitoring or Steering Committees, has Consulting Agreements, or received Speaker Honoraria from AbbVie, AcademicCME, ACTRIMS, Alkermes, Bayer HealthCare, Biogen, Bionest, Celgene, Clene Nanomedicine, CMSC, ECTRIMS, Forward Pharma A/S, Medday Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, PRIME, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi Genzyme, Strategic Consultants International, Takeda, Teva, WebMD. Royalties are received for out licensed monoclonal antibodies through UTHealth to Millipore (Chemicon International) Corp.
Tjalf Ziemssen, MD: Advisory Board or Panel: Biogen, Genzyme, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Teva; Consultant: Biogen, Novartis, Roche, Teva; Grants/Research Support: Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Teva; Speaker's Bureau Promotional Education: Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Teva.
Howard L Zwibel, MD: Speaker´s Bureau: Roche/Genentech, Teva.
Laura Simone, PhD: Nothing to disclose.
Tamar Sapir, PhD: Nothing to disclose.
Kathleen Moreo, RN, BSN, BHSA, CCM, Cm, CDMS: Nothing to disclose.
The educational programs reported in this abstract were funded through independent grants from Genentech and F. Hoffman-LaRoche, Ltd. The supporters had no role in the study design, abstract preparation, or abstract submission.
Abstract: P1241
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 32 Others
Background: Advances in MS research and treatment have engendered needs for new continuing education programs. Studies are lacking to describe MS education needs and outcomes among international neurologists.
Objective: To assess current MS education needs and outcomes of neurologists in Europe, South America, and the U.S.
Methods: Surveys were administered to neurologists (n = 1,380) before and after they participated in live accredited webinars or live regional workshops offered in England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, and the U.S. Held between 13 October 2016 and 19 February 2017, the educational programs were presented by esteemed MS specialists from each country. The survey items assessed knowledge about advances in research on MS pathophysiology, barriers to integrating new disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) into practice, and competence in applying current evidence to DMT decision-making.
Results: On the pre-activity surveys, only 18% of participants reported a good or excellent understanding of B- and T-cell roles in MS pathophysiology. Potential benefits of B-cell-targeted therapy for progressive MS were recognized by 43% of participants. The most commonly reported primary barriers to incorporating new DMTs in practice were cost and access constraints (59%) and limited long-term data on safety and effectiveness (35%). Across the 10 countries, most participants agreed or strongly agreed that early DMT use improves long-term outcomes; mean proportions of these responses ranged from 50% (Brazil) to 82% (Italy). On the post-activity surveys, there were significant increases in absolute proportions of neurologists
(1) with good or excellent understanding of B- and T-cell roles in MS pathophysiology (+29%; p< .001) and
(2) who recommended switching DMTs for patients with disability progression by EDSS (+20%, p< .001); lesion progression by MRI (+26%, p< .001); and transition to progressive MS (+27%; p< .001). The magnitude of these increases was similar across the 10 countries.
Conclusion: Among global neurologists, participation in continuing education activities significantly improved understanding of B- and T-cell roles in MS pathophysiology and competence in decision-making regarding new DMTs.
Disclosure:
Giancarlo Comi, MD: Consulting Services and/or Speaking Activities from Novartis, Teva, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck, Biogen, Roche, Almirall, Celgene, Forward Pharma, Excemed.
Edgardo Cristiano, MD, FAAN: Nothing to disclose.
Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, MD: Research Grants from TEVA and Biogen; Consulting Services: TEVA, Genzyme, Malinkrodt.
Gilles Edan, MD: Advisory Board or Panel: Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Roche; Grants/Research Support: Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme Sanofi, Merck, Roche, Teva.
Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD, FCP (Neurol., SA), FRCP, FRCPath: Advisory Board or Panel: AbbVie, Bayer-Schering Healthcare, Biogen, Canbex, Eisai, Elan, Fiveprime, GW Pharma, Genentech, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Ironwood, Merck, Merck-Serone, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Synthon BV, Teva, UCB Pharma, Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Emmanuelle Le Page, MD: Speaker/Consultant: Biogen Idec, Sanofi Genzyme, Merck Serone, Novartis, Teva, Roche; Grants from Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique (PHRC), La Ligue française contre la SEP, l'ARSEP, Teva.
Fred D Lublin, MD, FAAN, FANA: Sources of Funding for Research: Biogen Idec; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.; Teva Neuroscience; Genzyme; Sanofi; Celgene; Transparency Life Sciences; NMSS; Consulting Agreements/Advisory Boards/DSMB: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals; Biogen Idec; EMD Serono, Inc.; Novartis; Teva Neuroscience; Actelion; Sanofi/Genzyme; Acorda; Roche/Genentech; MedImmune; Receptos/Celgene; Forward Pharma; Akros; TG Therapeutics; AbbVie; Toyama; Amgen; Medday; Atara Biotherapeutics; Polypharma; Mapi Pharma; Coherus; Speaker: Genentech (non-promotional); Genzyme (non-promotional); Co-Chief Editor: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Aaron Miller, MD, FAAN: Consultant: Accordant Health Services (Caremark), Acorda, Alkermes, Biogen, EMD Serono (Merck Serono), Genzyme/Sanofi, Mallinckrodt (Questcor), Novartis, Roche/Genentech; Grants/Research Services: Biogen, Genzyme/Sanofi, Mallinckrodt (Questcor), Novartis, Roche/Genentech; Speaker's Bureau Promotional Education: Biogen Idec (unbranded disease awareness programs only), Roche/Genentech (unbranded programs only).
Per Soelberg Sørensen, MD, DMSc, FAAN: Scientific Advisory Boards, Steering Committees, or Independent Data Monitoring Boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, Teva, GlaxoSmithKline, medDay Pharmaceuticals, Forward Pharma, and has received Speaker Honoraria from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Teva, Genzyme, Novartis.
Jerry S Wolinsky, MD: Advisory Boards, Data Monitoring or Steering Committees, has Consulting Agreements, or received Speaker Honoraria from AbbVie, AcademicCME, ACTRIMS, Alkermes, Bayer HealthCare, Biogen, Bionest, Celgene, Clene Nanomedicine, CMSC, ECTRIMS, Forward Pharma A/S, Medday Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, PRIME, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi Genzyme, Strategic Consultants International, Takeda, Teva, WebMD. Royalties are received for out licensed monoclonal antibodies through UTHealth to Millipore (Chemicon International) Corp.
Tjalf Ziemssen, MD: Advisory Board or Panel: Biogen, Genzyme, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Teva; Consultant: Biogen, Novartis, Roche, Teva; Grants/Research Support: Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Teva; Speaker's Bureau Promotional Education: Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Teva.
Howard L Zwibel, MD: Speaker´s Bureau: Roche/Genentech, Teva.
Laura Simone, PhD: Nothing to disclose.
Tamar Sapir, PhD: Nothing to disclose.
Kathleen Moreo, RN, BSN, BHSA, CCM, Cm, CDMS: Nothing to disclose.
The educational programs reported in this abstract were funded through independent grants from Genentech and F. Hoffman-LaRoche, Ltd. The supporters had no role in the study design, abstract preparation, or abstract submission.