The use of multiple sclerosis databases at neurological university hospitals in Germany

The development of easy-to-use, clinically oriented multiple sclerosis (MS) database programs has been started, thus paving the way for MS centers to computerize their patient records and to improve quality management. To evaluate the prevalence of such programs at German neurological hospitals, a questionnaire was designed and sent to all clinic directors. With a return of more than 92%, it became evident that MS databases are still being used only by a minority of 22% on a regular basis. We did not recognize the predominance of a single program. A new MS database system that is being presently implemented in Germany is described.