Patient Preferences for Time and Location of Infusible Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunologic Disorders.

BACKGROUND

People with multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunologic disorders (herein referred to as patients) are increasingly treated with infusible monoclonal antibodies. This rise in demand has placed increased loads on current infusion services and mandates careful strategic planning. This study examined patient preferences for the timing and location of infusions and their association with demographic and disease variables to facilitate patient-focused strategic planning.

METHODS

Ninety-one patients receiving an infusible therapy at an infusion service during March 2019 were asked to complete a questionnaire exploring eight domains, including preferences for time of infusions and location of infusion centers. Potential access to home-based treatment was included as an option. Unstructured (free-text) feedback on current service was also obtained.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients completed the survey (mean age, 42 years; 75% women). Infusions were predominantly natalizumab (66%) and ocrelizumab (25%). Of these patients, 71% were engaged in some form of work or study, and 83% of this group had to arrange time off from work or study to attend treatment. Seventy percent of patients would prefer their infusion before noon, and 60% would consider home-based infusions. Most used a car as their transport to the infusion service.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that patients are more likely to prefer infusible treatment in the morning and are open to home-based infusions. This study provides information for health services to target service delivery at peak preference times and consider alternate ways of delivering infusible treatments.

Informations de copyright

© 2021 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Financial Disclosures: Ms Rath has received speakers’ honoraria from Biogen and Merck and travel grants from Biogen and Roche. Dr Jokubaitis has received speakers’ honoraria or travel support from Biogen, Roche, and Merck and receives grant support from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) and MS Research Australia (MSRA). Dr Nesbitt has received travel grants from Biogen and Roche. Dr Yeh has received conference attendance support and speaker honoraria from Biogen and travel support from Merck. Dr Wesselingh has received travel grants from Roche and Merck and speaking honoraria from Biogen and Merck. Dr Monif receives advisory board/speaker honoraria from Merck and Biogen, and her institution receives funds from the NHMRC. Dr Skibina received travel support and speaker honoraria from Biogen, Merck, Genzyme, and Novartis and served on scientific advisory boards for Merck and Biogen. Dr Butzkueven has received compensation for consulting, talks, and advisory/steering board activities from Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Genzyme, and Alfred Health; research support from Novartis, Biogen, Roche, Merck, the NHMRC, Pennycook Foundation, and MSRA; and compensation for the same activities from Oxford Health Policy Forum, Merck, Biogen, and Novartis. Dr van der Walt served on advisory boards and receives unrestricted research grants from Novartis, Biogen, Merck, and Roche; has received speakers’ honoraria and travel support from Novartis, Roche, and Merck; and receives grant support from the NHMRC and MSRA. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.