|
| MS subspecialists† | Non-MS subspecialists and general neurologists |
Number | % | Number | % |
|
Total study population | 87 | 15.18 | 486 | 84.82 |
Subspecialty status: | | | | |
Non-MS subspecialist | — | — | 364 | 75.83 |
General neurologists | — | — | 116 | 24.17 |
Practice arrangement: | | | | |
Solo practice | 16 | 18.39 | 123 | 25.31 |
Neurology group | 29 | 33.33 | 121 | 24.90 |
Multispecialty group | 11 | 12.64 | 48 | 9.88 |
University based group | 17 | 19.54 | 61 | 12.55 |
Other‡ | 5 | 5.75 | 56 | 11.52 |
Unknown | 9 | 10.34 | 77 | 15.84 |
|
Demographic characteristics |
Age: | | | | |
44 years or less | 16 | 18.60 | 124 | 26.05 |
45 to 53 years | 31 | 36.05 | 121 | 25.42 |
54 to 59 years | 25 | 29.07 | 118 | 24.79 |
60 years or more | 14 | 16.28 | 113 | 23.74 |
Sex: | | | | |
Male | 61 | 70.11 | 344 | 71.07 |
Female | 26 | 29.89 | 140 | 28.93 |
White: | | | | |
Yes | 67 | 88.16 | 305 | 76.63 |
No | 9 | 11.84 | 93 | 23.37 |
Asian: | | | | |
Yes | 9 | 11.84 | 83 | 20.85 |
No | 67 | 88.16 | 315 | 79.15 |
Other race: | | | | |
Yes | 0 | 0.00 | 13 | 3.27 |
No | 76 | 100.00 | 385 | 96.73 |
Hispanic or Latino: | | | | |
Yes | 4 | 5.41 | 24 | 6.25 |
No | 70 | 94.59 | 360 | 93.75 |
Year began medical practice after completing medical training: | | | | |
1972 to 1985 | 15 | 17.24 | 123 | 25.84 |
1986 to 1993 | 32 | 36.78 | 103 | 21.64 |
1994 to 2001 | 27 | 31.03 | 126 | 26.47 |
2002 to 2011 | 13 | 14.94 | 124 | 26.05 |
|
Limiting attitudes towards providing MS patient care |
Care for MS patients takes too much time: | | | | |
Yes | 36 | 41.38 | 87 | 17.90 |
No | 51 | 58.62 | 399 | 82.10 |
Insufficient reimbursement for time involved: | | | | |
Yes | 39 | 44.83 | 116 | 23.87 |
No | 48 | 55.17 | 370 | 76.13 |
Lack of sufficient knowledge to feel comfortable caring for this patient population: | | | | |
Yes | 0 | 0.00 | 32 | 6.58 |
No | 87 | 100.00 | 454 | 93.42 |
Lack of sufficient knowledge regarding newer disease-modifying drugs: | | | | |
Yes | 1 | 1.15 | 59 | 12.14 |
No | 86 | 98.85 | 427 | 87.86 |
Lack of special personnel (nurses, social workers, etc.): | | | | |
Yes | 24 | 27.59 | 115 | 23.66 |
No | 63 | 72.41 | 371 | 76.34 |
Little can be done to improve MS patients’ outcomes: | | | | |
Yes | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.41 |
No | 87 | 100.00 | 484 | 99.59 |
Seldom encounter MS patients: | | | | |
Yes | 0 | 0.00 | 70 | 14.40 |
No | 87 | 100.00 | 416 | 85.60 |
MS patients are often difficult to treat: | | | | |
Yes | 6 | 6.90 | 48 | 9.88 |
No | 81 | 93.10 | 438 | 90.12 |
MS patients often have multiple comorbidities: | | | | |
Yes | 20 | 22.99 | 70 | 14.40 |
No | 67 | 77.01 | 416 | 85.60 |
Providing care to MS patients is not sustainable in my practice environment due to time or reimbursement constraints: | | | | |
Yes | 8 | 9.20 | 49 | 10.08 |
No | 79 | 90.80 | 437 | 89.92 |
|
Positive attitudes towards providing MS patient care |
Ability to improve patient outcomes and quality of life: | | | | |
Yes | 81 | 93.10 | 382 | 78.60 |
No | 6 | 6.90 | 104 | 21.40 |
Dynamic area with evolving treatment options: | | | | |
Yes | 77 | 88.51 | 270 | 55.56 |
No | 10 | 11.49 | 216 | 44.44 |
Care involving a multidisciplinary approach: | | | | |
Yes | 52 | 59.77 | 116 | 23.87 |
No | 35 | 40.23 | 370 | 76.13 |
Research opportunities: | | | | |
Yes | 54 | 62.07 | 60 | 12.35 |
No | 33 | 37.93 | 426 | 87.65 |
Personal connection to individuals with MS who are not your patients: | | | | |
Yes | 16 | 18.39 | 33 | 6.79 |
No | 71 | 81.61 | 453 | 93.21 |
Enjoy interacting with MS patients: | | | | |
Yes | 62 | 71.26 | 173 | 35.60 |
No | 25 | 28.74 | 313 | 64.40 |
Community of dedicated professional colleagues with which to interact: | | | | |
Yes | 43 | 49.43 | 100 | 20.58 |
No | 44 | 50.57 | 386 | 79.42 |
|
Practice characteristics |
Area in which you are practicing: | | | | |
Within a major city (population greater than 250,000) | 50 | 58.14 | 234 | 48.45 |
Suburban or moderate-sized city (population 50,000 to 250,000) | 29 | 33.72 | 181 | 37.47 |
Rural area or small city (population less than 50,000) | 7 | 8.14 | 68 | 14.08 |
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