Complementary Therapies for People with Multiple Sclerosis: The Evidence and Gap Map

Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) use complementary therapies. It is important to identify research that focuses on what matters most to them.

The PEMS project (Participatory evidence synthesis in multiple sclerosis and complementary medicine) aims to improve the relevance and accessibility of clinical research on MS and complementary therapies. The Evidence and Gap Map is one of the main results of this project. Next planned steps are using this project as a use case for applying AI to improve the usability of the Evidence and Gap Map.

Notes:

• To view the Evidence and Gap Map correctly, please use a computer (not your smartphone).
• The Evidence and Gap Map opens in a new window.

Develop a Core Outcome Set

The project created a list of 30 key outcomes for trials evaluating complementary therapies for people with MS. These outcomes were identified as most important by people with MS, their families, healthcare professionals, and researchers. This COS serves as a guideline for future research to ensure trials focus on what matters most to the MS community.

Map Evidence and identifying gaps in knowledge

We looked for research studies that evaluated complementary therapies for these important outcomes. The studies are presented in an interactive, freely accessible online Evidence and Gap Map. The Evidence and Gap Map highlights gaps in knowledge about complementary therapies for MS, helping guide future research to be more relevant and beneficial to people with MS.

• Project lead:  Claudia Witt
• Project coordinator: Jesús López-Alcalde
• Review team: Jürgen Barth, Anna Katharina Tietjen, Yuqian Yan
• Stakeholder engagement: Claudia Canella
• Librarian: Noelia Álvarez-Diaz
• Stakeholder Advisory Board: Claudia Baum, Sarah Bolt, Stefan Hägele-Link, Gabriela Rettenmund Grob, Nina Steinemann, Viktor von Wyl

The Evidence and Gap Map was developedin collaboration with the Swiss MS Registry. The project was funded by the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society (Grant 2021-W).