Contributions
Abstract: EP1705
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Therapy - Others
Introduction: Therapeutic inertia (TI) is a common phenomenon in multiple sclerosis (MS) care defined as lack of treatment escalation despite evidence of disease progression. The perception of risk is one of the identified factors associated with TI. Limited information is available regarding physicians' gender differences in risk perception and TI in MS care.
Objectives: To evaluate gender differences in the perception of risk and TI among neurologists managing MS patients.
Design: We completed a face-to-face cross-sectional study including 50 neurologists with expertise in MS care from Spain and Chile. Participants answered questions regarding the management of 20 simulated case-scenarios in commonly encountered in clinical practice. Participants were also exposed to experiments to assess aversion to risk and ambiguity (unknown probability of an event). TI was measured as lack of treatment initiation or intensification when evidence of disease progression (e.g. clinical relapses and radiological activity). A multivariable analysis was conducted to determine whether gender is an independent predictor of TI with adjustment for covariates.
Results: Of 50 participants, the mean age was 40±11 years. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics by gender. Male neurologists exhibited more aversion to ambiguity (76% vs 60%; p< 0.001). There were 800 total responses for the assessment therapeutic decisions. TI was most commonly observed in female neurologists compared to male neurologists [28.5% (115/400) vs. 21.3% (85/400); p=0.018). The multivariable analysis adjusted to risk perception revealed that the likelihood of TI was more common among female neurologists (OR 5.60; 95%CI 1.02-30.6).
Conclusions: In our studied cohort of neurologists caring for MS patients, TI was more common among female neurologists. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to determine the potential causes.
Disclosure: The study was funded by Roche Farma Spain and Chile. GS is supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation Distinguished Clinician-Scientist and Mid-Career Awards. XM reports personal fees for consultancy and speaking from Actelion, Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck, Novartis, Oryzon Genomics, Sanofi Genzyme, and Teva. JM is an employee of Roche Farma Spain. BJ, MF and MT: nothing to disclose.
Abstract: EP1705
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Therapy - Others
Introduction: Therapeutic inertia (TI) is a common phenomenon in multiple sclerosis (MS) care defined as lack of treatment escalation despite evidence of disease progression. The perception of risk is one of the identified factors associated with TI. Limited information is available regarding physicians' gender differences in risk perception and TI in MS care.
Objectives: To evaluate gender differences in the perception of risk and TI among neurologists managing MS patients.
Design: We completed a face-to-face cross-sectional study including 50 neurologists with expertise in MS care from Spain and Chile. Participants answered questions regarding the management of 20 simulated case-scenarios in commonly encountered in clinical practice. Participants were also exposed to experiments to assess aversion to risk and ambiguity (unknown probability of an event). TI was measured as lack of treatment initiation or intensification when evidence of disease progression (e.g. clinical relapses and radiological activity). A multivariable analysis was conducted to determine whether gender is an independent predictor of TI with adjustment for covariates.
Results: Of 50 participants, the mean age was 40±11 years. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics by gender. Male neurologists exhibited more aversion to ambiguity (76% vs 60%; p< 0.001). There were 800 total responses for the assessment therapeutic decisions. TI was most commonly observed in female neurologists compared to male neurologists [28.5% (115/400) vs. 21.3% (85/400); p=0.018). The multivariable analysis adjusted to risk perception revealed that the likelihood of TI was more common among female neurologists (OR 5.60; 95%CI 1.02-30.6).
Conclusions: In our studied cohort of neurologists caring for MS patients, TI was more common among female neurologists. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to determine the potential causes.
Disclosure: The study was funded by Roche Farma Spain and Chile. GS is supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation Distinguished Clinician-Scientist and Mid-Career Awards. XM reports personal fees for consultancy and speaking from Actelion, Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck, Novartis, Oryzon Genomics, Sanofi Genzyme, and Teva. JM is an employee of Roche Farma Spain. BJ, MF and MT: nothing to disclose.