Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK.
Pharm Res. 2011 Jan;28(1):95-106. doi: 10.1007/s11095-010-0101-2. Epub 2010 Mar 18.
Microneedles are being developed to administer vaccines and therapeutics to and through skin. To date there has been no qualitative or quantitative research into public and health professionals' views on this new delivery technique.
Focus groups (n=7) comprising public and healthcare professionals were convened to capture the perceived advantages for, and concerns with, microneedles. Discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcript analysis identified themes that were explored using a questionnaire identifying consensus or otherwise.
Participants identified many potential benefits of the microneedle delivery system, including reduced pain, tissue damage and risk of transmitting infections compared with conventional injections, as well as potential for self-administration (subject to safeguards such as an indicator to confirm dose delivery). Delayed onset, cost, accurate and reliable dosing and the potential for misuse were raised as concerns. A range of potential clinical applications was suggested. The public (100%) and professional (74%) participants were positive overall about microneedle technology.
This exploratory research study captured the views of the eventual end-users of microneedle technology. Microneedle researchers should now reflect on their research and development activities in the context of stakeholder engagement in order to facilitate the transfer of this new technology 'from bench to bedside.'
微针被开发用于将疫苗和治疗剂递送至皮肤内部或通过皮肤进行递送。迄今为止，尚未有针对公众和医疗保健专业人员对这种新型递送技术的看法的定性或定量研究。
召集了包含公众和医疗保健专业人员的焦点小组（n=7），以了解他们对微针的看法。讨论内容被录音并转录。对转录本进行分析，以确定主题，然后使用识别共识或其他情况的调查问卷来探讨这些主题。
参与者确定了微针输送系统的许多潜在优势，包括与传统注射相比，疼痛、组织损伤和感染传播的风险降低，以及自我给药的潜力（需遵守一些保障措施，例如用于确认剂量输送的指示器）。延迟发作、成本、准确可靠的剂量和潜在的误用被认为是关注点。还提出了一系列潜在的临床应用。公众（100%）和专业（74%）参与者总体上对微针技术持积极态度。
这项探索性研究捕获了微针技术最终最终用户的观点。微针研究人员现在应该在利益相关者参与的背景下反思他们的研究和开发活动，以促进这项新技术从“实验室到病床”的转移。
