Implementation of a patient education program on multiple sclerosis relapse management

ObjectiveTo study the implementation of a patient education program on relapses and relapse therapy into routine care.Methods31 health care professionals took part in a one day train-the-trainer program (TTTP) and subsequently 261 persons with MS (pwMS) took part in the education program. Evaluation was carried out in trainers and pwMS.ResultsParticipants (health professionals) in the TTTP understood the program's main goals and reported that the TTTP enabled them to successfully perform the program. The majority of participants in the program (pwMS) understood the core messages. Also, they showed increased risk knowledge and increased decision autonomy preferences. Treatment decisions were reported as autonomous or as “informed choice” in 49%, and as “shared decisions” by 45%. Overall, effects were less marked compared to the results of the underlying randomized-controlled trial.ConclusionPwMS! appreciate evidence-based information about relapse management and view the unbiased presentation of scientific uncertainty as a chance for decision autonomy.Practice implicationsThe implementation study confirms the program's transferability into clinical practice.