Table 2.
Relative importance scores of the DMD attributes in the treatment decision according to neurologists and nurses, and results of the multivariable analyses for work function (neurologist or nurse) while controlling for other variables
| Attribute | Neurologists | Nurses | Difference in RIS according to profession | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Relative importance score Mean (SD) | Rank | Relative importance score Mean (SD) | b [95% CI] | t(59) | p | |
| Effect on disability progression | 1 | 9.41 (1.78) | 3 | 9.17 (1.41) | −1.14 [−2.43. 0.16] | −1.76 | .084 |
| Safety | 2 | 9.19 (0.83) | 1 | 9.38 (0.98) | −0.03 [−0.77. 0.72] | −0.07 | .943 |
| Effect on quality of life | 3 | 9.02 (0.90) | 2 | 9.34 (0.74) | 0.58 [−0.09. 1.26] | 1.73 | .089 |
| Effect on relapse rate | 4 | 8.98 (0.84) | 4 | 8.81 (0.92) | −0.03 [−0.77. 0.72] | −1.61 | .113 |
| Effect on development of plaques in the brain | 5 | 8.16 (1.23) | 5 | 8.55 (1.66) | 0.12 [−1.11. 1.34] | 0.19 | .851 |
| Severity of side effects | 6 | 8.14 (1.20) | 6 | 8.00 (0.92) | −0.48 [−1.37. 0.40] | −1.10 | .276 |
| Effect on the severity of relapse | 7 | 7.08 (2.11) | 7 | 7.52 (1.56) | 0.41 [−1.10. 1.91] | 0.54 | .590 |
| Effect on current MS symptoms | 8 | 6.45 (2.83) | 9 | 5.13 (2.97) | −0.40 [−2.74. 1.93] | −0.35 | .731 |
| Effect on life expectancy | 9 | 5.71 (3.19) | 12 | 4.23 (3.07) | −0.78 [−3.40. 1.84] | −0.60 | .554 |
| Uncertainty about long‐term consequences | 10 | 5.63 (1.98) | 11 | 4.72 (2.20) | −1.34 [−3.09. 0.41] | −1.53 | .131 |
| Influence on lifestyle | 11 | 4.94 (0.61) | 8 | 5.14 (0.59) | 0.21 [−0.28. 0.71] | 0.86 | .392 |
| Type of side effects | 12 | 4.65 (1.42) | 10 | 4.79 (1.56) | −0.09 [−1.27. 1.10] | −0.14 | .886 |
| Duration of side effects | 13 | 2.42 (1.07) | 14 | 2.83 (1.72) | 0.59 [−0.64. 1.82] | 0.97 | .338 |
| Pace of effect | 14 | 2.02 (1.90) | 15 | 2.83 (2.15) | 0.74 [−0.92. 2.41] | 0.90 | .374 |
| Mode of administration | 15 | 1.50 (1.60) | 16 | 1.26 (1.22) | −0.73 [−1.90. 0.43] | −1.26 | .213 |
| Insurance coverage | 16 | 1.37 (2.60) | 18 | 1.04 (1.97) | −0.28 [−2.17. 1.62] | −0.29 | .771 |
| Total DMD costs | 17 | 1.22 (1.80) | 25 | 0.16 (0.26) | −1.27 [−2.29. −0.25]a | −2.50 | .015 |
| Interaction with other medication | 18 | 1.10 (0.83) | 13 | 2.97 (2.32) | 2.09 [0.60. 3.59]a | 2.81 | .007 |
| Required monitoring | 19 | 0.78 (1.01) | 19 | 0.92 (1.59) | 0.79 [−0.24. 1.81] | 1.54 | .129 |
| Mode of action of DMD | 20 | 0.67 (1.44) | 17 | 1.17 (1.82) | 0.75 [−0.55. 2.05] | 1.15 | .254 |
| Frequency of administration | 21 | 0.66 (0.62) | 20 | 0.85 (0.70) | 0.19 [−0.36. 0.74] | 0.70 | .488 |
| Duration of administration | 22 | 0.35 (0.35) | 24 | 0.17 (0.14) | −0.05 [−0.25. 0.14] | −0.55 | .586 |
| Further development of DMD | 23 | 0.25 (0.64) | 21 | 0.43 (0.65) | 0.26 [−0.26. 0.78] | 1.01 | .316 |
| Use of DMD among other MS patients | 24 | 0.11 (0.10) | 23 | 0.20 (0.17) | 0.10 [−0.02. 0.21] | 1.61 | .114 |
| Ease of travelling | 25 | 0.10 (0.32) | 26 | 0.09 (0.09) | 0.05 [−0.14. 0.23] | 0.53 | .598 |
| Composition of DMD | 26 | 0.08 (0.14) | 22 | 0.29 (0.51) | 0.29 [−0.04. 0.61] | 1.77 | .082 |
| Contact person at pharmaceutical company | 27 | 0.01 (0.03) | 27 | 0.02 (0.04) | −0.01 [−0.03. 0.02] | −0.48 | .634 |
CI, confidence interval; DMD, disease‐modifying drug; MS, multiple sclerosis; RIS, relative importance score; SD, standard deviation.
a
P<.05.