OBJECTIVE: To develop an international services and needs assessment instrument (SUN) for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers and to pilot this in different countries of the European Community. DESIGN: Interview study of people with multiple sclerosis, their carers and nominated key professionals examining the unmet needs of patients and carers. SETTING: Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Needs assessment questionnaire. RESULTS: The study comprised 137 people with multiple sclerosis, 125 carers and 111 professionals. Patients reported on average 2.9 unmet needs for themselves; their carers and professionals reported on average 2.4. Needs were categorized into seven broad categories. Due to difficulties experienced by the local researchers in distinguishing between needs and objectives a large proportion of needs had to be assigned to the 'other' category. CONCLUSIONS: The SUN is a valuable and practicable tool for the identification of unmet needs for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers. Formal validation and reliability testing of the different language versions is recommended.
OBJECTIVE: To develop an international services and needs assessment instrument (SUN) for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers and to pilot this in different countries of the European Community. DESIGN: Interview study of people with multiple sclerosis, their carers and nominated key professionals examining the unmet needs of patients and carers. SETTING: Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Needs assessment questionnaire. RESULTS: The study comprised 137 people with multiple sclerosis, 125 carers and 111 professionals. Patients reported on average 2.9 unmet needs for themselves; their carers and professionals reported on average 2.4. Needs were categorized into seven broad categories. Due to difficulties experienced by the local researchers in distinguishing between needs and objectives a large proportion of needs had to be assigned to the 'other' category. CONCLUSIONS: The SUN is a valuable and practicable tool for the identification of unmet needs for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers. Formal validation and reliability testing of the different language versions is recommended.
Authors: Michela Ponzio; Andrea Tacchino; Paola Zaratin; Concetta Vaccaro; Mario Alberto Battaglia Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2015-03-30 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Albert I Matti; Helen McCarl; Pamela Klaer; Miriam C Keane; Celia S Chen Journal: Patient Prefer Adherence Date: 2010-06-24 Impact factor: 2.711
Authors: Andrzej Potemkowski; Waldemar Brola; Anna Ratajczak; Marcin Ratajczak; Mariusz Kowalewski; Małgorzata Lewita; Katarzyna Kapica-Topczewska; Joanna Tarasiuk; Adam Stępień; Katarzyna Gocyła-Dudar; Jacek Zaborski; Halina Bartosik-Psujek Journal: Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat Date: 2017-07-12 Impact factor: 2.570