Multiple sclerosis in adults: management (CG 186 update): call for evidence

What we need

We need information for the guideline we are developing on multiple sclerosis management in adults.

We are looking for studies evaluating the following:

Interventions

1) Processes of care where an individual healthcare professional (HCP) or group of HCPs are central to coordination of care and the single point of contact such as:

•  MS nurse specialists
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational therapists
• Key workers
• Social prescribers

 2) Multidisciplinary teams where the single point of contact is shared, not specified or changes.

 Comparisons

• Interventions 1) and 2) above compared to each other.
•  Processes of care as described in 1) where a different HCP is the single point of contact for example MS nurse specialist compared to physiotherapist.
•  Any of the processes described above compared to usual care where there is no single point of contact.

 We are mainly looking for systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials and prospective or retrospective non-randomised cohort studies that have adjusted for confounders. We may consider audits and before-and-after studies. However, we cannot accept other non-comparative studies, conference abstracts, promotional material, non-evidence-based assertions of effectiveness or opinion pieces.

 We would like studies that report measurable outcomes on:

• Reduction of hospital admissions for urinary tract infections, pressure sores, falls or respiratory infections
• Reduction/prevention of unplanned hospital admissions
• Reduction in consultant or GP appointments
• Treatment adherence
• Relapse rates
• Improvement in mental health
• Patient / carer satisfaction
• Functional scales that quantify level of disability, such as the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC), the Cambridge Multiple Sclerosis Basic Score (CAMBS), the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS)
• Health-related Quality of Life, for example EQ-5D, SF-36, Leeds MS quality of life scale, MS Impact Scale.
• Impact on patients and carers (formal and informal)
• Quality and safety of care and reduction in avoidable harms, e.g. timely treatment of side effects from disease modifying drug usage
• Impact on access to relevant services that can improve outcomes, e.g. neuro-physiotherapy, neuro-psychology, fatigue management services, occupational therapy, continence, pain clinics. 

We are particularly interested in information promoting equality of opportunity relating to age, disability, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion and belief sexual orientation or socio-economic status.

We would like:

• information published since 1995
• unpublished information related to research since 2010, including any ongoing research or commercial information.

Sending information

For published information, send only the details (to include author/s, title, date, journal or publication details, including volume and issue number, and page numbers). Do not send a pdf/Word document or paper copy.

For unpublished information, send:

• a link to any relevant trials registered with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, or with the US National Institutes of Health trials registry
• paper or electronic copies of other relevant unpublished information.

Highlight any confidential sections (unpublished research or commercially sensitive information) in unpublished information. For more details about this, see our guidelines manual.

Complete the Call for evidence response form and the checklist for confidential information form, including the declaration of any links with, or funding from, the tobacco industry. Email kate.ashmore@rcp.ac.uk these forms with any relevant information by 5:00 pm on Wednesday 14^th April 2021.

We look forward to receiving information and thank you in advance for your help.