Dear iConquerMS™ member,
Thank you for helping to review this proposed study of how people with MS think about the benefits and costs of MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Please read the study description below and then answer the 3 questions that follow.
Study description:
Who is conducting the study?
Surachat Ngorsuraches, PhD
Associate Professor College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions at South Dakota State University
What is the purpose of the study?
This study will try to determine the characteristics of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that people with MS prefer the most. (DMTs are drugs that help to prevent disease activity, like Rebif, Copaxone, Tysabri, Gilenya, and others.) Characteristics of a DMT include its ability to prevent relapses and disability; the way the drug is taken (by mouth, injection, etc.); its side effects; and other factors.
The study will also ask people with MS about how much they would be willing to pay for different types of DMTs, based on the drugs’ characteristics. The overall goal of the study is to gain a better understanding of how people with MS think about both the benefits and the costs of DMTs.
How could the results benefit people with MS?
The data collected by this study will provide valuable information to the National MS Society (NMSS) for advocacy and education. There is currently a great deal of discussion among health care providers, insurance companies, policy makers, and pharmaceutical companies about the price of MS DMTs. This discussion needs to also include the voice of people with MS.
The study findings will provide high-quality evidence about the preferences of people with MS. This evidence may help support discussions about DMT pricing and availability in a way that benefits people with MS.
What will happen in the study? How will iConquerMS™ members be involved?
Around 600 iConquerMS members will be invited to take an on-line survey that is being developed for this study. The survey is being developed with input from people with MS.
In the survey, participants will be shown information about different hypothetical (imaginary) DMTs and asked to indicate which ones they prefer. The survey will take around 10-15 minutes to complete. Participants will receive a $5 gift card for completing the survey.
The data collected by the survey will then be analyzed by the research team at South Dakota State University. The results of the study will be presented at meetings and published in professional journals. Study results will shared with iConquerMS members and other people with MS.
Who is providing the funding for the study?
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society