Contributions
Abstract: P957
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Therapy - Others
Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a major role in the life of
people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Studies have shown, that disease- and MRI-specific knowledge in PwMS is scarce, hampering their engagement with important medical decisions. Sources of information on the meaning of the MRI in MS are rare.
Objective: We aimed to develop an online education tool about the MRI in MS and assess its effect on PwMS' emotions, attitude and knowledge towards the MRI.
Methods: An online education tool (“Understanding MRI In MS”, UMIMS) was developed based on previous work and the input of MRI experts, MS expert patients and PwMS.
We developed and validated a 10-item-questionnaire on the EMotions and Attitude of PwMS towards MRI (MRI-EMA) and revised an MRI-RIsk KNOwledge questionnaire (MRI-RIKNO) with 23 MRI-focused questions.
Emotions, attitude and knowledge towards the MRI without access to the tool were assessed via an online survey as well as after using the tool in a separate online pilot study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.
Results: In the online survey (n=498 PwMS) without access to the online tool, participants answered 62% of MRI-specific questions correctly, 45% felt competent to discuss their MRI results with their physician and 58% stated, that the MRI results gave them a feeling of control over the disease. In the pilot cohort (n=75 PwMS, preliminary analysis), after using UMIMS, participants answered 75% of MRI-specific questions correctly, feeling of competence was higher (65%) and feeling of control over the disease lower (50%) compared to the participants of the online survey.
The tool was met with great enthusiasm. Almost all users stated, UMIMS helped to understand the topic (94%) and they would recommend it to other PwMS (94%). For 69% the website was easily understandable, to 8% it was not. Sixty percent of users felt encouraged by the website, in 12% the content caused fear.
Conclusion: Participants, that used the tool had a higher knowledge, felt more competent to discuss their MRI results and the MRI provided a lower feeling of control over the disease compared to PwMS without access to the tool. In a previous study, low feeling of control was associated with high MRI-knowledge. Hence, a lower feeling of control after using the tool might be a sign, that it provided participants with a better understanding of the limitations of the MRI in MS. The tool´s efficacy will be tested in a randomized controlled trial.
Disclosure: Imke Backhus has nothing to disclose.
Declan Chard has received honoraria (paid to his employer) from Excemed for faculty-led education work; had meeting expenses funded by Merck, MS Trust, National MS Society, Novartis, Société des Neurosciences and Swiss MS Society; and has previously held stock in GlaxoSmithKline.
Katharina Engels has nothing to disclose.
Magalie Freund has nothing to disclose.
Christoph Heesen received speaker honoraries and grants from Biogen, Genyzme, Merck, Novartis, Roche.
Carsten Lukas received a research grant by the German Federal Ministry for Education
and Research, BMBF, German Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS), grant no.01GI1601I, has received consulting and speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec, Bayer Schering, Daiichi Sanykyo, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Genzyme and TEVA.
Anne Rahn has nothing to disclose.
Jutta Scheiderbauer has nothing to disclose.
Insa Schiffmann has received travel expenses by Sanofi/Genzyme.
Patrick Stellmann received research funding from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and reports grants from Biogen and Genzyme.
Roland Weierstall has nothing to disclose.
Abstract: P957
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Therapy - Others
Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a major role in the life of
people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Studies have shown, that disease- and MRI-specific knowledge in PwMS is scarce, hampering their engagement with important medical decisions. Sources of information on the meaning of the MRI in MS are rare.
Objective: We aimed to develop an online education tool about the MRI in MS and assess its effect on PwMS' emotions, attitude and knowledge towards the MRI.
Methods: An online education tool (“Understanding MRI In MS”, UMIMS) was developed based on previous work and the input of MRI experts, MS expert patients and PwMS.
We developed and validated a 10-item-questionnaire on the EMotions and Attitude of PwMS towards MRI (MRI-EMA) and revised an MRI-RIsk KNOwledge questionnaire (MRI-RIKNO) with 23 MRI-focused questions.
Emotions, attitude and knowledge towards the MRI without access to the tool were assessed via an online survey as well as after using the tool in a separate online pilot study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.
Results: In the online survey (n=498 PwMS) without access to the online tool, participants answered 62% of MRI-specific questions correctly, 45% felt competent to discuss their MRI results with their physician and 58% stated, that the MRI results gave them a feeling of control over the disease. In the pilot cohort (n=75 PwMS, preliminary analysis), after using UMIMS, participants answered 75% of MRI-specific questions correctly, feeling of competence was higher (65%) and feeling of control over the disease lower (50%) compared to the participants of the online survey.
The tool was met with great enthusiasm. Almost all users stated, UMIMS helped to understand the topic (94%) and they would recommend it to other PwMS (94%). For 69% the website was easily understandable, to 8% it was not. Sixty percent of users felt encouraged by the website, in 12% the content caused fear.
Conclusion: Participants, that used the tool had a higher knowledge, felt more competent to discuss their MRI results and the MRI provided a lower feeling of control over the disease compared to PwMS without access to the tool. In a previous study, low feeling of control was associated with high MRI-knowledge. Hence, a lower feeling of control after using the tool might be a sign, that it provided participants with a better understanding of the limitations of the MRI in MS. The tool´s efficacy will be tested in a randomized controlled trial.
Disclosure: Imke Backhus has nothing to disclose.
Declan Chard has received honoraria (paid to his employer) from Excemed for faculty-led education work; had meeting expenses funded by Merck, MS Trust, National MS Society, Novartis, Société des Neurosciences and Swiss MS Society; and has previously held stock in GlaxoSmithKline.
Katharina Engels has nothing to disclose.
Magalie Freund has nothing to disclose.
Christoph Heesen received speaker honoraries and grants from Biogen, Genyzme, Merck, Novartis, Roche.
Carsten Lukas received a research grant by the German Federal Ministry for Education
and Research, BMBF, German Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS), grant no.01GI1601I, has received consulting and speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec, Bayer Schering, Daiichi Sanykyo, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Genzyme and TEVA.
Anne Rahn has nothing to disclose.
Jutta Scheiderbauer has nothing to disclose.
Insa Schiffmann has received travel expenses by Sanofi/Genzyme.
Patrick Stellmann received research funding from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and reports grants from Biogen and Genzyme.
Roland Weierstall has nothing to disclose.