PMID- 22298944
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
DCOM- 20121002
LR  - 20240412
IS  - 1177-889X (Electronic)
IS  - 1177-889X (Linking)
VI  - 6
DP  - 2012
TI  - Patient assessment of an electronic device for subcutaneous self-injection of 
      interferon beta-1a for multiple sclerosis: an observational study in the UK and 
      Ireland.
PG  - 55-61
LID - 10.2147/PPA.S26250 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: Injectable disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) reduce the number of 
      relapses and delay disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting 
      multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Regular self-injection can be stressful and impeded by 
      MS symptoms. Auto-injection devices can simplify self-injection, overcome 
      injection-related issues, and increase treatment satisfaction. This study 
      investigated patient responses to an electronic auto-injection device. METHODS: 
      Patients with RRMS (n = 63), aged 18-65 years, naive to subcutaneous (sc) 
      interferon (IFN) beta-1a therapy, were recruited to a Phase IV, observational, 
      open-label, multicenter study (NCT01195870). Patients self-injected sc IFN beta-1a 
      using the RebiSmart (Merck Serono S.A. - Geneva, Switzerland) electronic 
      auto-injector for 12 weeks, including an initial titration period if recommended 
      by the prescribing physician. In week 12, patients completed a questionnaire 
      comprising of a visual analog scale (VAS) to rate how much they liked using the 
      device, a four-point response question on ease of use ('very difficult', 
      'difficult', 'easy', or 'very easy'), and a list of ten device functions to rank, 
      based upon their experiences. RESULTS: Six patients (9.5%) discontinued the 
      study: one switched to manual injection; two discontinued all treatment; three 
      changed therapy. In total, 59 out of 63 patients (93.7%) completed the VAS; 54 
      out of 59 (91.5%; 95% confidence interval: 81.3%-97.2%) 'liked' using the 
      electronic auto-injector (score >/=6), whereas 57 out of 59 (96.6%) rated the 
      device overall as 'easy' or 'very easy' to use. Device features rated as most 
      useful were the hidden needle (mean [standard deviation] score: 3.3 [3.01]; n = 
      56), confirmation sound (3.9 [2.45]), and multidose cartridge (4.6 [2.32]). The 
      least useful functions were the dose history list (8.0 [2.57]) and dose history 
      calendar (7.5 [2.30]). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the electronic 
      auto-injector may be suitable for patients who are new to injectable DMD therapy. 
      Devices that simplify the injection process may help to ensure that patients 
      receive the full benefits of treatment.
FAU - D'Arcy, Caroline
AU  - D'Arcy C
AD  - West London Neuroscience Centre, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
FAU - Thomas, Del
AU  - Thomas D
FAU - Stoneman, Dee
AU  - Stoneman D
FAU - Parkes, Laura
AU  - Parkes L
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20120118
PL  - New Zealand
TA  - Patient Prefer Adherence
JT  - Patient preference and adherence
JID - 101475748
PMC - PMC3269318
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - drug delivery
OT  - injection device
OT  - interferon beta-1a
OT  - multiple sclerosis
OT  - training
EDAT- 2012/02/03 06:00
MHDA- 2012/02/03 06:01
PMCR- 2012/01/18
CRDT- 2012/02/03 06:00
PHST- 2012/02/03 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2012/02/03 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2012/02/03 06:01 [medline]
PHST- 2012/01/18 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - ppa-6-055 [pii]
AID - 10.2147/PPA.S26250 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012;6:55-61. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S26250. Epub 2012 Jan 
      18.