title: Knowledge and attitude assessment of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients receiving interferon beta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients permanently confronted with serious challenges from treatment regimen. Developing a new questionnaire in MS management, through evaluation of patients' perspectives and knowledge regarding treatment will help to identify the sources of tension, and to build a therapeutic alliance. We purposed to describe MS patients' understanding of their treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 425 completed and returned questionnaire were assessed of a total of 500 recruited MS patients. The knowledge of correct using interferon-beta (IFN-β) and attitude toward medical care were assessed using self-reported questionnaires consisted of 25 items with validity of multidisciplinary panel and pre-testing on 20 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge about IFN-β therapy was very low; however, attitude was at a high level. Female patients, self-injection ability, higher educational level, normal functional status, delay from the start of diagnostic workup to definite diagnosis, and being younger were related to a higher level of knowledge. Attitude was associated with functional status, family history of disease and the summary of knowledge variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Developing educational interventions are needed for MS patients regarding to their low levels of knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Amiralam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abolfazli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elyasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Javadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kheirollah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torkamandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amir-Shahkarami
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etemadifar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical Students' Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nasr
keywords: Attitude; Interferon-Beta; Internal Consistency; Knowledge; Multiple Sclerosis