| Sumario: | Background: The nurse practitioner (NP) within Australia and within multiple sclerosis (MS) is designed to improve outcomes for people with MS through the adoption of strategies that optimize therapeutic decision-making and improve communication around benefit and risk. The NP model is a safe and effective use of resources that enhances patientrelated outcomes. Objectives: There is much evidence in the literature to support the NP internationally, however within Australia the model has been limited with numerous barriers to fulfill the role to its full potential. The objective of this data set is to compare and contrast the effectiveness and safety of the NP role in the MS setting. Methods: A cohort analysis of patients with a primary diagnosis of MS was conducted over a period of 12 months. This analysis assessed a diverse range of end points; including time to treatment, shared decision-making practices, benefit and risk discussion, and access to care. A comparison was made between the NP and specialist neurologists in a large neurology department of a quaternary hospital within Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A simple random sampling process was used to generate 168 patients from each group. Further statistical analysis will be completed upon this data set. Results: Of 168 patients, a greater proportion were seen within 30 days of referral to an NP (59%) contrasted with a neurologist (11%). It was found that of patients who saw an NP vs a neurologist, there was increased discussion of potential benefit and risk (40% and 11%), increased initiation of disease-modifying therapy (50% compared with 21%), more frequent identification of relapses (23% vs 4%), and a greater appointment attendance in the NP cohort (99% and 82%). When examining the access to treatment between the 2 cohorts, it was found that 75% of the NP cohort received treatment within 0-60 days, as opposed to 65% of the neurologist cohort. Both cohorts were comparable in terms of hospital readmissions and emergency department presentations within 90 days of clinician consultation. Conclusions: The results highlight the benefit of the NP role within a neurology practice in an Australian setting; it was evident that the NP provided timely access to care and treatment. NPs remain a safe, effective, and valuable role within the MS community. Further resources as well as research should be implemented to support and evaluate this role within hospitals and communities across Australia.
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