Understanding Unmet Needs in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Patients with Multiple Sclerosis need individualized care specific to their disease process. It is a challenge to coordinate care and address the patient needs by the healthcare workers, caregivers, and the patient in order to preserve quality of life. Within the literature, Multiple Sclerosis patients have communicated that they have unmet needs, such as a cure, education, care coordination, access to care, and even financial support (Mehr & Zimmerman, 2015; Litchfield & Thomas, 2010; Heesen, Kopke, Richter, & Kasper, 2007; Galushko et al., 2014; Smyth, 2011; Lonergan et al., 2015). Understanding the needs of the Multiple Sclerosis outpatient, community-based patient can be done through identification of the unmet needs, discussion about the needs, as well as articulating how healthcare can work towards correcting these needs.

Objectives: Identify the unmet needs of the Multiple Sclerosis patient. Educate about the unmet needs of the patient. Provide information about addressing and eliminating the unmet need. 

Methods: A qualitative systematic review is being completed regarding this information by the presenters. 

Results: Currently in progress. 

Conclusions: Multiple Sclerosis patients have unmet needs that are not being addressed efficiently by their healthcare providers, caregivers, or other personal in their lives. They are reporting unmet needs both emotionally and physically (Mehr & Zimmerman, 2015; Penwell-Waines, Stepleman, Goodworth, Casillas, & Rahm, 2016; McCabe, Ebacioni, Simmons, McDonald, & Melton, 2015). In addition, caregivers of patients with Multiple Sclerosis are also reporting unmet needs. The evidence suggests that future research should be concerning the unmet needs of the caregivers. Overall, research has shown that both the patient and caregivers need more support to have a better quality of life with Multiple Sclerosis.

References: available per request.