title: Observational study assessing demographic, economic and clinical factors associated with access and utilization of health care services of patients with multiple sclerosis under treatment with interferon beta-1b (EXTAVIA).
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) results in an extensive use of the health care system, even within the first years of diagnosis. The effectiveness and accessibility of the health care system may affect patients' quality of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the health care resource use of MS patients under interferon beta-1b (EXTAVIA) treatment in Greece, the demographic or clinical factors that may affect this use and also patient satisfaction with the health care system. Structured interviews were conducted for data collection. In total, 204 patients (74.02% females, mean age (SD) 43.58 (11.42) years) were enrolled in the study. Analysis of the reported data revealed that during the previous year patients made extensive use of health services in particular neurologists (71.08% visited neurologists in public hospitals, 66.67% in private offices and 48.53% in insurance institutes) and physiotherapists. However, the majority of the patients (52.45%) chose as their treating doctor private practice neurologists, which may reflect accessibility barriers or low quality health services in the public health system. Patients seemed to be generally satisfied with the received health care, support and information on MS (84.81% were satisfied from the information provided to them). Patients' health status (as denoted by disease duration, disability status and hospitalization needs) and insurance institute were found to influence their visits to neurologists. Good adherence (up to 70.1%) to the study medication was reported. Patients' feedback on currently provided health services could direct these services towards the patients' expectations.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dardiotis
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Neurology, University of Athens, School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsivgoulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Athens Naval Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Triantafyllos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doskas
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic at Vostanio General Hospital of Mytilini, Mytilini, Greece.
authors.forename: Damianos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at Agios Andreas General University of Patra, Patra, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.affiliation: 3rd University Neurology Department at Papanikolaou University Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vlaikidis
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at Greek Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomaidis
authors.affiliation: University Neurology Department at University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at 401 Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fakas
authors.affiliation: 2nd University Neurology Department at AHEPA General University Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Xoulietta
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Treska
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at Gennimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Clementine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karageorgiou
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotirli
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannoulis
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic at Interbalcan Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mylonas
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department at 251 Air Force Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Evaggelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kouremenos
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Novartis Hellas S.A.C.I., Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Novartis Hellas S.A.C.I., Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Georgiopoulos
authors.affiliation: BECRO, Pharmaceutical Services, Athens, Greece; Department of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Despoina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mademtzoglou
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic at Interbalcan Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece; Medical Department, Novartis Hellas S.A.C.I., Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vikelis
authors.affiliation: BECRO, Pharmaceutical Services, Athens, Greece; Department of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Larissa, Greece; The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zintzaras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000068576:Interferon beta-1b