Sahraian Mohammad Ali, Moghadasi Abdorreza Naser, Eskandarieh Sharareh
Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Curr J Neurol. 2021 Jan 4;20(1):15-22. doi: 10.18502/cjn.v20i1.6375.
After intensified economic sanctions against Iran, decreased welfare of patients were more recognizable. The present study was aimed at identifying the challenges and stress level experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding treatment and health care services in 2018-2019 after strengthening of economic sanctions against Iran. A cross-sectional study was conducted on MS patients in Tehran, Iran. A structured questionnaire was designed to measure the main variables addressing the challenges and stress level of MS patients with respect to receiving care and treatment services. In total, 1039 MS patients were enrolled into the study. Among the patients who answered yes to the questions, 873 (85.8%) and 837 (86%) were concerned about medicine unavailability and supply and purchase of internationally branded medicine, respectively. Moreover, 671 (70.3%) subjects were concerned about replacing their medicines with cheaper alternatives due to financial problems and 427 (41.4%) were unwilling to continue their treatment due to the economic burden of MS. In total, 795 (82%) were concerned about the effectiveness of Iranian drugs in comparison with internationally branded drugs. Generally, 970 (93.53%) subjects had experienced increased current living costs and 711 had experienced (68.82%) reduced nutrition quality, which (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.99, 3.60) was significantly higher among subjects who had an income of less than or equal to 250 US$ per month. The sanctions can impose greater stress and hardship on patients due to the unavailability and costs of medicines. Iran should manage health care quality and provide services to prevent the adverse effects of sanctions on MS patients and guarantee patients' right to receive well-established medication and health services.
在对伊朗实施强化经济制裁后,患者福利下降的情况愈发明显。本研究旨在确定2018 - 2019年在对伊朗强化经济制裁后,多发性硬化症(MS)患者在治疗和医疗服务方面所面临的挑战及压力水平。在伊朗德黑兰对MS患者开展了一项横断面研究。设计了一份结构化问卷来测量主要变量,这些变量涉及MS患者在接受护理和治疗服务方面的挑战及压力水平。共有1039名MS患者纳入研究。在对问题回答为“是”的患者中,分别有873名(85.8%)和837名(86%)担心药品无法获取以及国际品牌药品的供应和购买。此外,671名(70.3%)受试者因经济问题担心用更便宜的替代药品替换其现有药品,427名(41.4%)因MS的经济负担而不愿继续治疗。总体而言,795名(82%)担心伊朗药品与国际品牌药品相比的有效性。一般来说,970名(93.53%)受试者经历了当前生活成本增加,711名(68.82%)经历了营养质量下降,在月收入小于或等于250美元的受试者中,这一比例(比值比:2.68;95%置信区间:1.99,3.60)显著更高。制裁可能因药品无法获取和成本问题给患者带来更大压力和困难。伊朗应管理医疗质量并提供服务,以防止制裁对MS患者产生不利影响,并保障患者获得成熟药物治疗和医疗服务的权利。