Table 1. Data sources.
| Objective | Research questions* | Specifying the data source | Target group and planned number of participants (n) | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Search | ||||
| Analyses of the general healthcare for PwMS (focus 1) and healthcare regarding assistive devices (focus 2) | 1.1, 2.3 | - | - | - |
| Qualitative data | ||||
| Analysis of the general healthcare for PwMS (focus 1) | 1.1, 1.4 | Focus groups | PwMS (24)a | Primary data |
| Physicians (8)b | ||||
| Analysis of the healthcare regarding assistive devices (focus 2) | 2.2 | Focus groups | PwMS (32)c | Primary data |
| Physicians and other professionals (32)d | ||||
| Analysis of the healthcare regarding assistive devices (focus 2) | 2.4 | Future workshop | PwMS (15) | Primary data |
| Physicians and other professionals (10) | ||||
| Quantitative data | ||||
| Analyses of the general healthcare for PwMS (focus 1) and healthcare regarding assistive devices (focus 2) | 1.1, 1.4, 2.1 | Online survey | PwMS (7,000, response 25%: 1,750) | Primary data |
| 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 | Secondary care data of a statutory health insurance company | PwMS (1,750, depending on response to online survey) | Secondary data | |
| 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 | MS registry data | PwMS (800) | Secondary data | |
| 1.1–1.7, 2.1 | Data linkage | PwMS taking part in online survey | Primary and secondary data | |
| Analyses of the general healthcare for PwMS (focus 1) and healthcare regarding assistive devices (focus 2)–analyses of single data sources | 1.1–1.7, 2.1 | Secondary care data of a statutory health insurance company | PwMS (7,000) | Secondary data |
*As listed in the study aims and setting above.
a3 focus groups with 8 participants each.
b1 focus group with 8 participants.
c4 focus groups with 8 participants each.
d4 focus groups with 8 participants each.
MS: Multiple Sclerosis; PwMS: People with Multiple Sclerosis.