Why carry out this study?

Critical gaps exist in understanding the continuum of multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, particularly specific to the patient experience prior to and during the transition from relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) to secondary-progressive MS (SPMS).

This study explored patient and care partner perspectives of MS progression, emphasizing the understanding of transition from RRMS to SPMS.

What was learned from the study?

The developed conceptual model depicts the patient journey, including both progression and the impact of progression, and may be useful in helping to determine factors that lead to the transition point of SPMS.

Consideration of the patient experience through the transition process by elucidating patient views, concerns, and preferences may be useful to health care providers and other stakeholders as they seek to provide timely and relevant care to patients with SPMS.

Feedback from patients and care partners in this qualitative study underscores the need for availability of a tool to identify early signs of MS progression and further augment patient-clinician communication related to disease state and management.