Fernández, OscarAgüera, EduardoIzquierdo, GuillermoMillán-Pascual, JorgeRamió I Torrentà, LluisOliva, PedroArgente, JoaquinBerdei, YasminaSoler, Jose MariaCarmona, OlgaErrea, Jose MariaFarrés, Jordi2013-03-182013-03-182012-05-16Fernández O, Agüera E, Izquierdo G, Millán-Pascual J, Ramió I Torrentà Ll, Oliva P, et al. Adherence to interferon β-1b treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis in Spain. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(5):e35600http://hdl.handle.net/10668/843Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND Adherence to interferon β-1b (INFβ-1b) therapy is essential to maximize the beneficial effects of treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). For that reason, the main objectives of this study are to assess adherence to INFβ-1b in patients suffering from MS in Spain, and to identify the factors responsible for adherence in routine clinical practice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This was an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study including 120 Spanish patients with MS under INFβ-1b treatment. Therapeutic adherence was assessed with Morisky-Green test and with the percentage of doses received. The proportion of adherent patients assessed by Morisky-Green test was 68.3%, being indicative of poor adherence. Nevertheless, the percentage of doses received, which was based on the number of injected medication, was 94.3%. The main reason for missing INFβ-1b injections was forgetting some of the administrations (64%). Therefore, interventions that diminish forgetfulness might have a positive effect in the proportion of adherent patients and in the percentage of doses received. In addition, age and comorbidities had a significant effect in the number of doses injected per month, and should be considered in the management of adherence in MS patients. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Among all the available methods for assessing adherence, the overall consumption of the intended dose has to be considered when addressing adherence.enInterferon beta-1bHumanosMediana EdadEsclerosis MúltipleCooperación del PacienteEspañaMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Peptides::Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins::Cytokines::Interferons::Interferon Type I::Interferon-betaMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Middle AgedMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System::Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS::Multiple SclerosisMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Delivery of Health Care::Attitude to Health::Patient Acceptance of Health Care::Patient ComplianceMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::AdultMedical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::Spainresearch article22615737open access10.1371/journal.pone.00356001932-6203PMC3353967