OBJECTIVES

Delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral compound indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). This study aims to assess the impact on adherence of specific advice provided by retail pharmacists.

METHODS

TECPHIE is a randomized, prospective, multicentre study with two groups of pharmacists, one providing 6 motivational interviews in a period of 9 months in addition to the usual drug delivery and one delivering drug in the usual settings.

RESULTS

At the end of recruitment, 109 patients were recruited by 190 pharmacists. An interim intent-to-treat analysis has been performed at 6 months with 31 patients: 17 without motivational interviews (control group) and 14 with motivational interviews. Mean age was 42 (range, 18−75) years in both groups and disease anteriority was 6 to 7 years on average, with a sex ratio of 4 women for every 1 man. The DMF pill count in the group without motivational interviews was 94.4% (SD 7.3), whereas it was 98.7% (SD 2.7) in the group with motivational interviews (p<0.05). At 6 months, an interim per‑protocol analysis was performed with 28 patients: 15 without and 13 with motivational interviews. The DMF pill count in the group without motivational interviews was 95.5% (SD 4.8), whereas it was 99.1% (SD 2. 6) in the group with motivational interviews (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this interim analysis of RRMS patients treated with DMF, the overall treatment adherence rate at 6 months was high in both groups. However, there was a statistically significant increase in adherence among patients who received motivational interviews by a pharmacist compared with those who did not.