Table 1.

Core items of the Multiple Sclerosis Health Resource Utilization Survey: content and response option.

Domain (number of questions) and question label		Item	Response option
Direct medical costs (5)
	Inpatient stays	Stays in a hospital, especially in a neurological ward, rehabilitation clinic, and nursing home	Number of stays
	Outpatient stays	Stays in a hospital, especially in a neurological ward, rehabilitation clinic, and nursing home	Number of stays
	Professional consultations	Contact with neurologists, other specialists, multiple sclerosis nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, counselling centers, opticians, speech therapists, acupuncturists, other alternative health care professionals, and others	Number of contacts
	Examinations	Examinations undergone: magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, lumbar puncture, and blood examinations	Number of examinations
	Over-the-counter medication		Expenditure in Euro
	Medical consumables		Expenditure in Euro
	Professional care	Assistance from professional caregiver and home help	Number of hours per week
Direct nonmedical costs (2)
	Informal care	Assistance from friends and family members	Number of hours per week
	Investments and purchases	Investments and purchases: housing, car modifications, walking aids, manual wheelchair, automatic wheelchair, scooter, bed, and others	Expenditure in Euro
Indirect costs (3)
	Employment	Total hours of working time per week	Number of hours
	Employment: Sick leave	Days of sick leave	Number of days
	Employment: Presenteeism	Extent of reduced productivity at work	Likert scale (0-10)
	Employment: Disability pension	Extent of disability pension	Percentage