Fernandez, OscarAguera, EduardoIzquierdo, GuillermoMillan-Pascual, JorgeRamio- I-Torrenta, LluisOliva, PedroArgente, JoaquinBerdei, YasminaSoler, Jose MariaCarmona, OlgaErrea, Jose MariaFarres, 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;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.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. Among all the available methods for assessing adherence, the overall consumption of the intended dose has to be considered when addressing adherence.enAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Cross-Sectional StudiesRetrospective StudiesSpainMultiple SclerosisInterferon beta-1bMedical 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 accessInterferon beta-1bMediana edadEsclerosis múltipleCooperación del pacienteEspaña10.1371/journal.pone.00356001932-6203PMC3353967