JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

A digital tool (Multiple Sclerosis Progression Discussion tool, MSProDiscuss) was developed to facilitate a discussion between a healthcare professional (HCP) and patient in evaluating early, subtle signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression.

Objective:

To report findings on the usability and usefulness testing of the MSProDiscuss tool in the real-world clinical setting.

Methods:

In this cross sectional, online survey, HCPs across 34 countries completed an initial individual questionnaire (comprising 7 questions on comprehensibility, usability and usefulness after using MSProDiscuss during each patient consultation) and a final questionnaire (comprising 13 questions on comprehensibility, usability and usefulness, and integration and adoption into clinical practice to capture their overall experience on using the tool). Responses were provided on a 5-point Likert scale. All analyses were descriptive, and no statistical comparisons were made.

Results:

In total, 301 HCPs tested the tool in 6974 MS patients, of which 77% were relapsing remitting MS patients including those suspected to be transitioning to secondary progressive MS. The time taken to complete MSProDiscuss was 1-4 minutes in 97% (initial) to 98% (final) of the cases. In 94% (initial) to 97% (final) cases, HCPs agreed (4 or 5 on the Likert scale) that patients were able to comprehend the questions from the tool. HCPs were willing to use the tool again in the same patient 91% (initial) of the cases. MSProDiscuss was useful in discussing MS symptoms and their impact on daily activities (88% initial and 92% final) and cognitive function (79% for both initial and final) and in discussing progression in general (88% initial and 90% final). While completing the final questionnaire, 95% of HCPs agreed that the questions were similar to those asked in regular consultation and the tool helped to better understand the impact of MS symptoms on daily activities (91%) and cognitive function (80%). Overall, 92% of the HCPs would recommend MSProDiscuss to a colleague, and 86% are willing to integrate it into their clinical practice.

Conclusions:

MSProDiscuss is a usable and useful tool to facilitate a physician-patient discussion on disease progression in daily clinical practice. Most HCPs agreed that the tool is easy to use and were willing to integrate MSProDiscuss into their daily clinical practice.