Possible Influence of the Route of Treatment Administration on Treatment Adherence in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

PurposeMultiple sclerosis is a chronic, demyelinating, and degenerative disease of the central nervous system with an immune-based pathologic origin. The present pilot study aimed to assess whether the change in the route of treatment administration is associated with a variation in adherence and whether there is a change in quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and fatigue.MethodsPatients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were >18 years of age and who used to receive immunomodulatory parenteral treatment and were ready to change administration route were eligible for the study. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months later. Adherence, quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and fatigue were measured via the following questionnaires: Morisky-Green questionnaire on patient-reported medication adherence, Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Instrument, Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale.FindingsThe study sample included 30 patients (mean age, 43.2 years; age range, 24–71 years; 60% female and 40% male). There was a significant improvement in adherence (p = 0.048). Mean (SD) physical and mental health quality-of-life summary scores varied from 52.50 (24.15) and 54.13 (21.24) to 67.55 (20.92) and 62.30 (21.75) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, d = −0.426 and d = −0.643, respectively). In the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, an improvement of the score was observed in effectiveness of the medication (p = 0.0041, d = −0.563), adverse effects of the medication (p < 0.001, d = −0.976), convenience of the medication (p < 0.001, d = −1.235), and global satisfaction (p = 0.006, d = −0.725). Patients had a higher mean (SD) score (45.13 [26.7]) on the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale while receiving injectable treatment compared with that obtained with oral treatment (34.86 [23.16]; p = 0.009, d = 0.41).ImplicationsWhen the route of administration changed from injectable to oral, there was an increase in adherence, quality of life, and degree of patient satisfaction with their treatment and a decrease in the degree of fatigue.