Communicating about disease progression

Although it can be difficult to think about, forward planning can be very helpful in allowing people with MS to continue doing the things they love for longer. By responding to this survey, you can help the push for a better understanding and improvement of communication in MS care through exploring how and when conversations about disease progression arise.

Thank you for helping us to understand your perspective on these sometimes tricky conversations.

Your responses will be used by EMD Serono on behalf of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (the sponsoring pharmaceutical company) to inform the development of educational tools or publications. Your responses will be presented to the sponsor company in an aggregated and anonymous format. Your responses will remain confidential and will not be used for purposes other than those outlined above, or disclosed to any third party without your approval. You can withdraw from the survey at any time and have the right not to answer a particular question should you so wish.

Are you happy to participate in the survey on this basis?(Required)

Yes

No

I am from(Required)

I am a(Required)

When do you generally first talk about MS progression with your patients?(Required)

When my patients raise it with me

I do not talk to my neurologist about MS disease progression

At diagnosis

At initiation of treatment

At development of new symptoms

At treatment change

At major relapse

What prompts you to talk about disease progression with your patients?(Required)

I think it is important to be honest with my patients

Other

I do not talk to my patients about MS disease progression

My patient will raise the topic

I feel that talking about progression improves treatment adherence

I feel that talking about progression improves patient trust

I want to avoid my patient discovering the information online

(Please choose one or more options)

Why might discussions about disease progression sometimes NOT take place?(Required)

I am waiting for my patient to raise the topic

Talking about disease progression is too upsetting for patients

Patients may not feel empowered to discuss disease progression

Other

Patients generally do not understand the concept of disease progression

Patients do not want to think about disease progression

Lack of time during appointments

(Please choose one or more options)

Do you feel that your patients understand the concept of disease progression during discussions?

Yes

No

Not sure

I do not talk to my patients about MS disease progression

What do you think are patients' biggest concerns about disease progression?(Required)

Loss of sense of self

Increased disability

Inevitability of decline

Other

How it will affect their work

How it will affect their family/partner/friends

Loss of freedom

(Please choose one or more options)

Communicating about disease progression survey

Thank you for helping us to understand your perspective on these sometimes tricky conversations.