Background and purpose: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have to face important decisions with regard to their medical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a targeted cognitive training reduces framing effects and thus improves medical judgments.
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study enrolling patients with relapsing-remitting MS and healthy controls (HCs). Participants were randomly assigned to training order A (first week, numerical training; second week, control training) or B (reverse order). The primary endpoint was changed in a framing task score (framing effect). In the framing task, participants evaluated the success of fictive medications on a 7-point scale. Medications were described in either positive or negative terms.
Results: A total of 37 patients and 73 HCs performed either training order A (n = 56) or B (n = 54). The framing effect decreased after the numerical training regardless of training order. No such decrease was found after the control training. Mean change in framing effect was -0.3 ± 0.8 after the numerical training and 0.03 ± 0.6 after the control training. This specific effect of training type was comparable between groups.
Conclusion: Judgments of medical information improve in both patients with relapsing-remitting MS and HCs after a targeted numerical training. Thus, a specific cognitive intervention may help patients making informed decisions.
Keywords: cognition; decision making; intervention; multiple sclerosis; relapsing-remitting; risk comprehension.
© 2018 The Authors. European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Neurology.