Effective Management of Multiple Sclerosis: Shared Decision-Making with the Patient

Program Overview

Early diagnosis is key to improving outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), as treatment initiation early in the disease course can help mitigate symptoms and slow disease progression. Recent advances in the pathophysiology of MS have led to new disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that have the potential to halt or significantly slow disease progression and provide the first-available treatment for patients with primary progressive MS.

However, clinical uncertainty remains in accurately diagnosing MS and individualizing treatments. These issues can preclude MS patients from reaping the optimal benefits of treatment advances. Patients with MS also report suboptimal levels of shared decision-making, a crucial component in managing MS as a chronic disease.
Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Identify key clinical components (physical assessment, medical history, laboratory and neuroimaging parameters) utilized in the differential diagnosis of MS
Evaluate MRI images in the context of individualized patient symptoms and medical histories to make a differential diagnosis of MS
Compare the mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy/safety profiles of available and late-stage investigational DMTs for the treatment of MS
Recognize patient preferences and disease specific factors that influence DMT selection and adherence in individual patients with MS
Integrate strategies to engage in and promote shared-decision making with MS patients