Perceptions on the value of bodily functions in multiple sclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) presents diverse symptoms, making bodily function valuation crucial for clinical management.
• Understanding patient and physician perceptions of bodily function importance in MS is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient and physician perceived values of various bodily functions in individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
• To identify discrepancies in prioritizing functions between patients and their physicians.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study followed 171 RRMS patients and their physicians for up to 3 years.
• Yearly, patients and physicians rated the importance of 13 bodily functions using a priority list.
• Analyses examined differences between patient and physician ratings and the influence of disease demographics.

Main Results:

• Patients ranked visual function highest, followed by thinking/memory and walking; physicians prioritized mobility, thinking/memory, and alertness.
• Significant differences emerged for swallowing (valued more by patients) and hand function (valued more by physicians).
• Patients equally valued physical and mental functioning, whereas physicians emphasized physical functioning.

Conclusions:

• Discrepancies exist between patient and physician value judgments regarding bodily functions in MS.
• Physicians appear to under-recognize the importance of visual functioning for MS patients.