title: Assessing the role of patient support services on adherence rates in patients using glatiramer acetate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess predictors of achievement of 80% Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) in patients receiving manufacturer-provided self-management services for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).
  
  
  METHODS
  De-identified patient records were selected for study inclusion if patients had been (1) continuously enrolled in one or more aspects of the self-management program for a minimum of 24 months and had adherence measured by MPR between the values of zero and one. Baseline patient univariate measures were assessed using chi-squared statistics for categorical variables and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables. Bivariate logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of 80% MPR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5825 patients met the study inclusion criteria. About 70% of patients received manufacturer-provided injection training and 75% were eligible for, and utilized, copayment assistance; 74.3% of patients accessing sponsor provided support achieved a desired MPR of greater than or equal to 80%. Patients were 40% more likely to reach goal if injection training was provided by the manufacturer (OR = 1.435; 95% CI = 1.258-1.636) and were 30.6% more likely to achieve goal when eligible patients utilized copayment assistance programs (OR = 1.306; 95% CI = 1.109-1.570). Patients reinitiating treatment were at risk of lower adherence rates (OR = 0.605; CI = 0.476-0.769) compared to those who were new to therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Manufacturer-provided patient support programs improve adherence to glatiramer acetate therapy.
authors.affiliation: Teva Neuroscience, 901 W. 104th St, Kansas City, MO 64131, USA.
authors.forename: Janice L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Scheidt
authors.forename: Ranbir S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kaushal
authors.forename: Cathryn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate