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IJMSC January 2026 Research Roundup
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A video and text review of the research published in January 2026 by the International Journal of MS Care.
January offerings from the pages of the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC). The video is a summary of all 4 papers in under 3 minutes!
Kelly L. Budge, Antonia F. Oladipo, Krupa Pandey
A survey of providers of obstetric and gynecological care at a large hospital system in New Jersey showed that regardless of clinician experience, confidence in treating people with multiple sclerosis or MS was low. The study identified key research to practice gaps especially around family planning, sexual health, and bladder dysfunction. And the questions asked and education provided by the survey influenced clinicians: More clinicians reported poor confidence in their ability to treat people with MS after the survey.
Isabelle Weld-Blundell, Yvonne C. Learmonth, Marlena Klaic, Darshini Ayton, Jodi Haartsen, Allan G. Kermode, Yasmine Probst, Christoph Heesen, Claudia H. Marck
National and international MS treatment guidelines are created to ensure consistency and create safety. Organizations and systems invest considerable resources into them, but when it comes to their daily use, clinicians are not sold. When interviewed, 16 Australian MS clinicians reported that clinical care is more nuanced than just implementing guidelines. They take into consideration patient factors and preferences as well as available resources. Key barriers to guideline use were lack of localization, lack of education, and a lack of ways to regularly update guidelines as more evidence of best practices emerges.
Navigating Life With Multiple Sclerosis in Denmark: From First Symptoms to Long-Term Management
Louise Parker Buch, Christine Midtgaard, Bodil Bjørnshave Noe, Tobias Sejbæk, Louise Schlosser Mose
This Danish study highlights that the diagnostic period is a time of extreme emotional vulnerability for people with MS. Interviewees also wanted support around disease disclosure and the ongoing uncertainty of disease progression. Effective clinical care should prioritize a holistic, person-centered approach that builds trust and acknowledges the person’s innate knowledge of their body.
Social Determinants of Health in Multiple Sclerosis in Jackson, Mississippi: Focus Groups
Farrah J. Mateen, Violet Awori, Justin B. Hill, Mary Alissa Willis
Similarly, this study of people with MS in Jackson, Mississippi, also found that the period around MS diagnosis is a critical time, particularly for Black interviewees who reported higher rates of being disbelieved or treated with less respect in medical settings. Participants had a high burden of social determinants of health (SDOH), experiencing a median of six distinct barriers—such as racial bias, infrastructure failures, and safety concerns—that significantly impact their care. To improve outcomes in "specialist deserts," clinicians should consider systemic interventions like patient-navigation programs, teleneurology, and community-based outreach.
Read all the latest research on our site: IJMSC.org.
