Course 4: Treating Multiple Sclerosis (2023- )

Course 4: Treating Multiple Sclerosis (2023- )

Course 4 reviews the pharmacologic management of MS. It explores current disease modifying therapies (DMTs) and associated nursing issues. Symptom management is discussed with an emphasis on pharmacologic management.

What you will Learn
As new research and emerging therapies change the treatment paradigm for MS, the nursing role and its associated demands are also changing. Following completion of this course, nurses will gain a clear understanding of the treatment strategies available to help manage all aspects of MS.  They will understand the different aspects of relapse management, along with the role the MS nurse plays in helping people with MS manage their condition and associated symptoms. A detailed overview of the DMT options available for people with MS, including their differentiating factors and how they are utilised, will also be provided.

Target Audience
This course has been developed by experts to meet the educational needs of nurses who have an interest in optimising the management of people with MS. 

Languages
This course is available in all thirtheen languages of MS Nurse PRO. Important: English is the native language of this course and the other languages have been auto-generated using Microsoft Translator. 
All auto-generated languages are being language reviewed by native healthcare professionals. Once this review is completed, we'll list the language here. 
Native: English
Auto-generated: Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Czech, Polish, Greek, Romanian, Hungarian, Spanish and Portuguese
Language reviewed: none

Expert Working Group
MS Expert Working Group

Duration
The estimated time to complete this course is 10 hours.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in this activity. Participants must:
1. Complete the pre-course survey
2. Read the learning objectives
3. Participate in the entire educational activity
4. Complete the exam for the course, achieving a pass mark of 75% or more
5. Complete the feedback survey

Certification
A certificate of completion will be available to download upon successful completion of the course. 

Foundation Programme on MS nursing
This course is part of the MS Nurse PRO Foundation Programme on MS nursing. 

Practical Information

Released
07/05/2023
Last Updated
07/05/2023
Enrollments
567
Includes
Exam Pre-survey Post Survey
Languages
Dutch French English German Greek Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Spanish Italian Czech Hungarian

Course Sections

  • 1.0 Introduction: Treatment approaches in MS
  • 1.1 Treatment strategies
  • 1.2 Role of the nurse
  • 1.3 Reflection and references
  • 2.0 Relapse management
  • 2.1 Definition and impact of a relapse
  • 2.2 Treating a relapse
  • 2.3 The role of the nurse
  • 2.4 Reflection and references
  • 3.0 Disease modifying treatments
  • 3.1 An introduction to DMTs
  • 3.1.1 Mechanism of action
  • 3.2 DMTs for relapsing MS
  • 3.2.1 Moderately effective DMTs
  • 3.2.1.1 Dimethyl fumarate
  • 3.2.1.2 Diroximel fumarate
  • 3.2.1.3 Glatiramer acetate
  • 3.2.1.4 Interferons
  • Interferon β-1a (Avonex)
  • Interferon β-1a (Rebif)
  • PEG Interferon β-1a (Plegridy)
  • Interferon β-1b (Betaferon)
  • Interferon β-1b (Extavia)
  • 3.2.1.5 Teriflunomide
  • 3.2.2 More/strongly effective DMTs
  • 3.2.2.1 Cladribine
  • 3.2.2.2 Fingolimod
  • 3.2.2.3 Ozanimod
  • 3.2.2.4 Ponesimod
  • 3.2.3 Highly effective DMTs
  • 3.2.3.1 Alemtuzumab
  • 3.2.3.2 Natalizumab
  • 3.2.3.3 Ocrelizumab
  • 3.2.3.4 Ofatumumab
  • 3.2.3.5 Ublituximab
  • 3.3 DMTs for progressive MS
  • 3.3.1 Siponimod
  • 3.3.2 Ocrelizumab
  • 3.4 Generics and biosimilars
  • 3.4.1 Biosimilar natalizumab
  • 3.5 DMT selection
  • 3.5.1 Factors to consider
  • 3.5.2 Shared decision-making
  • 3.5.3 Switching or stopping DMTs
  • 3.6 Role of the nurse
  • 3.6.1 Providing education/information
  • 3.6.2 Management of side effects
  • 3.6.2.1 Common side effects and how to manage them
  • 3.6.3 Promoting adherence
  • 3.7 Reflection and references
  • 4.0 Stem cell therapy
  • 4.1 Efficacy and safety
  • 4.2 Nursing considerations
  • 4.3 Reflection and references
  • 5.0 Symptomatic treatments
  • 5.1 Walking
  • 5.2 Spasticity
  • 5.3 Fatigue
  • 5.4 Bladder dysfunction
  • 5.5 Bowel dysfunction
  • 5.6 Sexual dysfunction
  • 5.7 Depression
  • 5.8 Cognition
  • 5.9 Pain
  • 5.10 Cannabidiol use for treating symptoms in MS
  • 5.11 Reflection and references
  • 6.0 Non-established therapies
  • 6.1 Reflection and references
  • Case study
  • Management issue 1
  • Recommended approach
  • Management issue 2
  • Recommended approach
  • Case conclusion
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