ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The challenges in dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased considerably in recent years. In addition to neurologists, MS nurse specialists are key to the management of MS patients, but there is a lack of evidence regarding their quality of counseling. METHODS: The data collection took place between October 2018 and March 2019 in the outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The quality of counseling was assessed using the APN-BQ, an instrument that contains 19 items that can be assigned to 4 dimensions. Participants were asked to rate their satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 3. General satisfaction was assessed on a scale from 0 to 100. RESULTS: The participants (n = 110) rated the quality of counseling and their general satisfaction high. The mean (SD) of the structure quality dimension was 2.64 (0.44), and satisfaction with length and frequency of consultations (2.53 [0.63]) scored better than outcome quality (1.99 [0.62]) and process quality (2.13 [0.60]). CONCLUSION: Overall, there was a high rate of satisfaction with the quality of counseling. In addition to the length and frequency of consultations, MS patients particularly appreciated the availability and expertise of MS nurse specialists.
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The challenges in dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased considerably in recent years. In addition to neurologists, MS nurse specialists are key to the management of MS patients, but there is a lack of evidence regarding their quality of counseling. METHODS: The data collection took place between October 2018 and March 2019 in the outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The quality of counseling was assessed using the APN-BQ, an instrument that contains 19 items that can be assigned to 4 dimensions. Participants were asked to rate their satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 3. General satisfaction was assessed on a scale from 0 to 100. RESULTS: The participants (n = 110) rated the quality of counseling and their general satisfaction high. The mean (SD) of the structure quality dimension was 2.64 (0.44), and satisfaction with length and frequency of consultations (2.53 [0.63]) scored better than outcome quality (1.99 [0.62]) and process quality (2.13 [0.60]). CONCLUSION: Overall, there was a high rate of satisfaction with the quality of counseling. In addition to the length and frequency of consultations, MS patients particularly appreciated the availability and expertise of MS nurse specialists.