Unveiling MS Specialists’ Views on Multiple Sclerosis Prognostication – A Qualitative Study

Introduction

The current methods for MS prognostication often focus on physical disability, leaving gaps in understanding the broader impact of MS. This study investigates how neurologists integrate prognostication into their practice and identifies key areas requiring attention to improve decision-making. By capturing the perspectives of MS specialists, the research highlights the need for standardized, patient-centered approaches that go beyond traditional disease metrics.

In this post, we share the latest findings from a qualitative study, by Sofie Aerts, a PhD Researcher, who presented at ECTRIMS 2024 on Multiple Sclerosis Prognostication. The poster, titled “Unveiling MS Specialists’ Views on Multiple Sclerosis Prognostication”, delves into how MS specialist neurologists conceptualize and approach prognosis in clinical practice. This study is vital for enhancing personalized treatment plans and optimizing patient outcomes.

Key takeaways

• Standardization: There is a pressing need for standardized tools to assist both experienced and less experienced neurologists in MS prognostication.
• Holistic Approach: Neurologists emphasized the importance of addressing both clinical and subclinical factors, including patient-reported outcomes (PROs), alongside visible disease activity.
• Patient-Centred Care: Quality of life must be a crucial component of prognosis, emphasizing the unique perspectives of each patient.
• Decision-Making: Navigating treatment decisions in the context of high-efficacy treatments, budget constraints, and shared decision-making is vital.

Download the full poster and explore how these findings can shape the future of MS care.

About the author

Sofie Aerts is a PhD researcher at Hasselt University in Belgium, where she is supervised by Prof. Bart Van Wijmeersch, the ParadigMS Expert and Board Member and Prof. Liesbet M. Peeters. She is affiliated with the Biomedical Research Institute and the Rehabilitation Research Centre of Hasselt University. Her research is situated within the University MS Center (UMSC), a collaborative effort connecting Hasselt University with Noorderhart Rehabilitation and MS to advance research and patient care in MS.
Sofie’s research focuses on improving prognostication in MS by developing a tool that integrates data-driven insights with expert knowledge from MS specialists, aiming to address limitations in current predictive models and provide clinicians with a trustworthy resource for informed decision-making.
In collaboration with the ParadigMS Foundation, Sofie recently led a qualitative study through semi-structured interviews with its board members, investigating how MS specialists perceive and utilize prognostic information in clinical practice. The findings from this study, which will be published soon, will inform her subsequent steps as she collaborates with experts from ParadigMS to co-develop a prognostic algorithm.
Beyond this work, Sofie contributes to efforts that involve applying machine learning techniques to clinical and paraclinical data, with the goal of predicting disease worsening and identifying biomarkers in MS. In addition, she is engaged in retrospective studies that assess the safety and effectiveness of MS treatments in real-world settings.

The poster is a part of a PhD project on MS Prognostication that will be rolled out over the next 4 years (2023-2026).