Quality of care provided by Multiple Sclerosis Centers during Covid-19 pandemic: Results of an Italian multicenter patient-centered survey.

Background: Covid-19 pandemic impacted on management of people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Level of satisfaction of pwMS regarding the care received by the staff of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (MSCs) during the pandemic was not fully investigated. In a large patient-centered multicenter study, the therapeutic adherence and quality of care of MSCs was assessed.
Methods: In April-May 2021, an online survey was widespread by 16 Italian MSCs. Frequencies, percentages and/or means and standard deviations were calculated to describe the sample. ANOVAs were performed to evaluate the effect of sociodemographic and clinical variables on overall pwMS' rating of MSC assistance.
Results: 1670 pwMS completed the survey (67.3% women). During the pandemic, 88% did not change their disease modifying therapy schedule, and 89.1% reached their MSCs with no or little difficulties. Even if only 1.3% of participants underwent a tele-health follow-up visit with their MSC staff, the 80.1% believed that tele-health services should be improved regardless of pandemic. 92% of participants were satisfied of how their MSC took charge of their needs; ANOVAs revealed an effect of disease duration on pwMS' level of satisfaction on MSCs management during the pandemic.
Conclusions: The results revealed an efficient MSCs response to Covid-19 pandemic and provided the basis for the implementing of tele-health services that would further improve the taking charge of patients, particularly those with longer disease, higher disability, and/or living far from their MSC.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Biogen that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Merck Serono that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Mylan ITALIA Srl that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Novartis that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Roche that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Sanofi Genzyme that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Antonio Gallo reports a relationship with Teva Health that includes: consulting or advisory, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Biogen that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Novartis that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Sanofi that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Sanofi Genzyme that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Merck Serono that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Teva Health that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Lorena Lorefice reports a relationship with Almirall Ltd that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Alvino Bisecco reports a relationship with Biogen that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Alvino Bisecco reports a relationship with Roche that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Alvino Bisecco reports a relationship with Merck & Co Inc that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Alvino Bisecco reports a relationship with Celgene Corp Los Angeles that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Alvino Bisecco reports a relationship with Sanofi Genzyme that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Biogen that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Bristol Myers Squibb that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Celgene Corp Los Angeles that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Sanofi Genzyme that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Merck Serono that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Novartis that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Roche that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with International Progressive MS Alliance that includes: funding grants. Massimiliano Calabrese reports a relationship with Ministry of Health that includes: funding grants. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Bayer AG that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Biogen Italy that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Sanofi Genzyme that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Merck & Co Inc that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Mylan ITALIA Srl that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Novartis that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Roche that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Siemens Healthineers that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Massimiliano Di Filippo reports a relationship with Teva Health that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Teva Health that includes: board membership. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Roche that includes: board membership. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Eli Lilly Italy that includes: board membership. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Allergan US that includes: board membership. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Sanofi-Aventis US LLC that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Merck Serono Ltd that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Bayer Schering Pharma AG that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Biogen Italy that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Gioacchino Tedeschi reports a relationship with Novartis that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement.
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