Dr Kieren Po’s research aims to understand which treatments are being used by people with multiple sclerosis (MS), how treatments are chosen and monitored, how well people stay on treatments (adherence) and the reasons why. This will be achieved by analysing data obtained from people with MS and clinicians.
Ultimately, this research aims to advance understanding of the contemporary MS treatment landscape in different care settings and may help people with MS and their treating doctors with their treatment decisions. Optimising the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) will help reduce long-term adverse impacts of MS and improve quality of life.
Over the past year, Dr Po finished collecting data about the use of MS treatments over the past 10 years in Australia. The team has nearly finished research interviews with people with MS and neurologists about how MS treatments are chosen.
Dr Po found DMT use in Australia has increased over time. The most widely-used DMTs are ocrelizumab and ofatumumab. There has been a long-term trend towards greater use of these and other high-efficacy therapies and decreasing use of oral and older injectable (interferon beta and glatiramer acetate) DMTs. Interviews showed most people with MS and neurologists identify effectiveness as the most important factor when choosing a treatment, although “effectiveness” means different things to different people. Also, neurologists use different methods when deciding on treatments.
Dr Po will complete his analyses over the next 12 months. This research is expected to improve health outcomes by improving the quality use of medicines. For people with MS, this is expected to improve treatment efficacy, reduce adverse effects and boost their ability to achieve their treatment goals.
Over the course of the project, Dr Po completed data collection on MS treatment use in Australia, covering a 10-year period. He also completed interviews with people living with MS, neurologists and MS nurses to better understand how treatment decisions are made.
The research shows that the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in Australia has increased over time. In particular, newer high-efficacy treatments, including ocrelizumab and ofatumumab, are now the most commonly used therapies, while older injectable and some oral treatments are used less frequently.
The study also found that effectiveness is the most important factor for both people with MS and clinicians when choosing a treatment, although what “effectiveness” means can vary between individuals. Other important considerations include safety, monitoring requirements, treatment convenience, family planning, and clinician experience. There is also variation between clinicians and care settings in how these decisions are made.
Overall, this research has provided important insights into how MS treatments are used in real-world clinical practice across Australia and what influences treatment decisions. These findings will help inform best practice approaches to care. By supporting more appropriate and consistent use of DMTs, this work has the potential to improve treatment outcomes, reduce side effects, and help people living with MS better achieve their treatment goals
Updated 31 March 2026
$52,500
2023
3 years
Past project
